News and Views
We have our fingers on the pulse of modern missions. Mission work is changing rapidly as the world's cultures and global conditions are changing. Ease of travel and communication impact how the Gospel is spread. But at the heart of missions, there is the work of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the obedience of the Church to carry out Jesus' command to go into all the earth.
We want to present challenging biblical truths, insights into today's missions environment, and progress reports on reaching the entire world with the Gospel. Please keep checking our blog regularly for updates, stories and challenging thoughts from Scripture!
How do most of us define the word “darkness”? We often say that darkness is the absence of light. That is true as far as the human eye can discern it. For many years scientists thought that the dark parts of the universe, the “black holes,” were empty spaces devoid of matter, especially matter like stars, which emit light. However, it turns out that “darkness” is actually “dark energy” or “dark matter.”
At Christmas, we celebrate because Jesus came into the world to rescue people from darkness. He knew that “darkness” is a real spiritual force that can be felt. The darkness that people in...
In October, I had the honor of joining our Cambodia Ministry Director, Uong Vibol and members of his team in Phnom Penh for a momentous gathering hosted by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen for 3,000 leaders from Christian groups and denominations across the country. What makes this event even more extraordinary is that Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia, and around 95 percent of the population claim it as their religion. While he is not a Christian himself, Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked the Christians for their role in strengthening Cambodian society in the areas of...
I love to travel, and I love to read travel magazines. One thing I constantly read about is the importance of finding a local person to show you a new area. Why? Because local people know what is really happening in a community. They can guide a visitor to the best restaurants and events. They can give tips about parking and places to avoid. Locals have deeper insight into life in their area. Recently, I visited our Reach A Village ministry partners in Bulgaria. We traveled outside the capital city with Sergo, a ministry partner who helps to organize, train and mentor local believers to...
Ed Stetzer, a renowned church-planting expert and executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, recently interviewed Reach A Village Founder and President Bob Craft about keys to the staggering number of new believers and house churches being started by Thai Christians. This movement in Thailand was featured in the Christianity Today April cover story.
Craft said that, ultimately, it is the work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, but he also shared some insights from the Thai Christians’ methods. For example, they keep the initial Gospel presentation simple and...
Sometimes, you don’t know what you’re missing until you find it. As a busy working parent, some days seem so long, but there is something that has recently added a bit of unexpected joy to my day.
Every day, I leave at the same time to pick up my daughter. At the same intersection, I see a crossing guard wearing a yellow vest, gray slacks and bright smile each day. She makes it a point to smile and wave at every single car that passes her. No matter how tired I may feel, the crossing guard never fails to put a smile on my face and lift my spirits.
Last week, I was running a little bit late...
We are excited to share that the Christianity Today April cover story "Making Missions Count" features interviews with Dwight Martin of CrossTies Asia, a ministry of Reach A Village, and with Bob Craft. We are so pleased for this opportunity to talk about the role new technology and national Christians, like our Thai ministry partners the Free in Jesus Christ Church Association (FJCCA), will play in the future of global missions. New technology can show in real time where ministry needs are greatest and help bring organizations together to work toward Great Commission goals. The...
The ministry of Reach A Village was featured in the March issue of AFA Journal, a publication of the American Family Association. In an interview, President Robert Craft told about our focus on training local believers in order to reach the remaining 1 million unreached villages around the world. “They are unreached, but not unreachable,” he commented.
He explained that, from his own experience as a missionary, he had observed that indigenous Christians were more effective when it came to communicating and connecting with the people on a spiritual level because of their shared language and...
A few years ago, I began considering how to find someone to travel to Southeast Asia in my place and continue the partnerships I’ve had with ministries for almost 20 years. As Reach A Village has grown, so have my responsibilities as president. Additionally, I will turn 67 in March, and some health issues prompted me to get more intentional about the search. It wouldn't be easy to find the right person. The individual would have to live in North America, yet be passionate about reaching the lost in Asia, be able to work across cultures with international pastors, teachers and church...
While a student at Olivet Nazarene University, I would sing in the annual performance of George Frideric Handel's “Messiah” every December. My choir would practice for months in advance as the yearly event was a proud tradition.
One of the most popular choruses featured this verse from Isaiah. For a good portion of it, Handel focuses on the first phrase of the verse, "for to us...
“I thank God, whom I serve … as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith …" 2 Timothy 1:3-5a
There are many things for which to be thankful, like our faith, family, life, health, peace, food and shelter. This Thanksgiving season, I want to encourage you to also take time and thank the Lord for people He has brought into your life. When Paul wrote these words, he obviously felt that his life and ministry were nearing an end (2 Timothy 4:6). Perhaps that is...
