FORWARD!
Where Mission and Miracles Meet

by Mike Bennett, managing editor

Ever been between a rock and a hard place? Israel was. Actually, they were between rocks, a pursuing army and a very deep, very wet place—the Red Sea. God's solution was the one they least expected:

"And the LORD said to Moses, 'Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward'" (Exodus 14:15).

Recently at the Feast of Unleavened Bread we recounted the miracles God used to bring His people out of Egypt. Today He uses other miracles, invisible but perhaps even more powerful, to deliver us individually and collectively from bondage to Satan. He's using us to help rescue this world as well. When we reach our Red Seas, He also tells us to "go forward"!

The difficulties we face are daunting. On page 10 Richard Pinelli writes of a challenge facing the Church—one of manpower. As the ministry ages, where will we find even enough pastors to replace them? Mr. Pinelli explains what mature members of the Church can do to help encourage, train and mentor younger people—the future generation of Church servants and leaders.

Though their numbers are few, actually the prospects for the future of the Church look good! For example, read about the over 400 young people and adults who will give of their time to serve the teens and preteens at camp this summer (see page 5). The enthusiasm and zeal of the young people is infectious, and God can use them to not only help us keep our heads above water, but to go forward!

As you can see in the special section on pages 5 through 8, so many people of all ages have worked mightily, contributing tens of thousands of hours of volunteer service. We applaud their efforts and are inspired by their zeal.

God has packed awesome challenges in that short Mission Statement printed below. "All the world" is a pretty big place, though the Internet is making it possible to reach into corners of the planet we never thought possible. The e-mails we receive from Iran and Iraq, China and Croatia, Nepal and Nigeria show how God can use this technology to cross borders.

Still, how are we to make and care for disciples in dangerous countries? What about places where it is illegal to convert to Christianity? We pray earnestly that God will reveal the answers and help us in completing the job He has given us. He can open the doors and part the seas.

There is much work still to do. We have our mission; we have access to the miracles. We, too, must go forward!

Note: We are beginning this column based on reader input. Contributors will include the editors, operation managers and the president.