Numbers that Count

I need to take you back a few years for a second.  Let’s jump into our DeLoreans and go for a spin.

Playing by the Numbers
 

During my junior high and high school days, I lived and breathed and had my being hanging onto every single curve ball thrown by my idol, Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax – “Swung on and missed, a perfect  game!”  Vin Scully, September 9, 1965, 9:46 pm (PST). I was in the third heaven that night.  Hey, I heard  this and probably every game he pitched.  Number 32.  I had his number.  I still have his  jersey!  And all the stats and numbers and  baseball records Sandy accumulated throughout  his so illustrious career, I knew them all on the  back of my hand.   And tons, I mean tons of other  stats and numbers from every team and player in  baseball. Yep, I knew my stats.  I knew my numbers.  Play ball!

All this wonderful, ok, worthless information sort of took a backseat as I grew up and started to raise a family.  It wasn’t like I was forsaking childish things; I just had to start chasing the American dream.  I don’t think I got a chance to see one baseball game during those years.  Seriously.  We were at the dance studio eight days a week.  
Then there was a turn of events a couple years ago that put numbers and statistics back into the limelight.  Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.  I was attending a cross cultural missionary class taught by Pastor Rob Douglass.  He was dead serious talking about some crazy stuff that totally blew me away.  It still does.

Praying for the Numbers

I had no idea at all that there were so many people that had not even heard of Jesus Christ.  Rob said that around 40% of the entire world’s population have not been reached with the Gospel; in fact they have not even been told that there is a Savior God that died for their sins and His name is Jesus. Rob was showing us charts and stats and numbers, fully documented, that were disturbing me.  I just never realized this stuff.  I started praying.  And as I kept praying the Lord changed my heart, giving me a different outlook on what was really important in my life, what really mattered.  These stats and numbers were indeed the real deal to me now. Oh boy, Lord Jesus.  What are we getting into?

Reading Numbers and …

Well, it’s landed me and eight more youthful radicals into a new missionary internship program at Calvary Chapel Saving Grace.  For me this is an answered prayer.  I’d been asking the Lord to get more into His Word, like both the Old and New Testaments.  Ahh, well, the pastors at church must have been eavesdropping in on my prayers or something because – Bam! – We’re reading Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Acts and Ephesians and I hear we’re just getting started.  “Wait Lord!  I was just kidding.  I love manna. Really.  It’s my so favorite delight.” We all know getting grounded in the word of God is the most important thing for a missionary.  We are all being discipled so we can go out and disciple others, here at home and abroad, wherever the Lord leads us.  This is the way it works.  Read Acts of the Apostles.

Praise Reports

I passed all my academic requirements for my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification.  How cool is that!  Thanks to all of you who prayed for me.  It was not easy, especially the 12 verb tenses and teaching methodologies and techniques.  I just want to be sure when the Lord opens a door for me to teach somewhere, (South Asia – hello?) I know what I am doing.  I know the Holy Spirit has given me the gift of teaching.  But along with gifts and grace comes common sense and preparation.  I’m ready Lord.  Let’s go!  Oh, and —

I’m going!  Can you believe it?  In just a few days our team from SGWM will be meeting up with several of our missionaries at their church plants and Bible Colleges throughout South Asia.  I am praying to just take this month long trip in, not make any plans or anything.  Just chill.  Right!  I know the Lord has great things in store for each of us that are going; not only for our team to come along and support the nationals and their flocks in South Asia.  But for them to come alongside and support us as well.  We are all in this thing together (Ephesians 4:16). 

Numbers that Count

You want to know why Sandy Koufax was my favorite (by far) sports hero?  Because every single time he walked to the pitcher’s mound there was a real possibility greatness might take place.  And most of the time it did.  Well, you know, like Koufax, I’m out to do great things too.  – try and hit a home run every time I’m at bat.  You think I’m in this Christian thing to just walk?  Or get hit by the pitcher (spiritual warfare for sure!)  No way!  There is no reason why with Christ by my side I can’t do “all things through Christ Jesus which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  I have His word and I am going to take Him up on it.

“Then the word of God spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem…” (Acts 6:7). The Holy Spirit was working then and I am convinced He is still working today, leading people here and all over the world to Jesus Christ.  “3,000 souls came to the Lord in one day” says Acts 2:41.   I like these numbers.  These are numbers that truly count.

I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me and have partnered financially with me as well.   Being part of this internship program at church has really made me realize how much we all need to support each other in every way we can.  Hey, we are the Body of Christ, the greatest thing (I don’t have words) this side of heaven.

Prayer Requests

• For safety and good health as we travel throughout South Asia
• For a unified spirit for us on our trip
• For me to just chill, learn, listen during the trip.  I sort of can’t wait.

I know I will have super stuff to tell you in my next update.  Stay tuned.  If you’d like to get my monthly updates sent directly to your email inbox, just click on the following link:  Jim Needham’s updates  You can always reach me at jneedham@sgwm.com  if I’m not out being chased by a tiger or something.  Is this crazy?  The Lord bless all of you.

Jim Needham