On The Rhoads

I just got this email from from the president of MAF International, Ron Pritz. He makes a great point that “sacrafice is suffering chosen.”  Please join us in praying for the family of our lost pilot.

Dear MAF Family,

Greetings in the Name of the One Who sacrificed His own Son for our sake.

As I write this letter the word “sacrifice” stands out.  You are all aware that yesterday, on our world-wide Day of Prayer, our brother Hadleigh Smith, a young single pilot, and his aircraft were lost while on a routine flight in northern Australia.  Today the search and rescue effort discovered debris from his airplane on the shoreline, indicating that the aircraft had crashed at sea.  The tragedy and loss impacts us all, some far more than others.  The grief will be intense for Hadleigh’s family in Australia.  His “immediate” MAF family in Arnhem Land will suffer the loss plus the trauma that comes with any fatal accident in a program.  The rest of us will grieve with them and support them on our knees before the Lord.

Sacrifice is suffering chosen.  Many people in the world suffer.  But what distinguishes suffering from sacrifice is that sacrifice is suffering chosen by the one who will have to actually endure it.  This is exactly what our Savior did for us.  He chose to “make Himself nothing . . . and (become) obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:7-8). The Apostle Paul puts the believer’s sacrifice in a new light.  In Philippians 1:29 he says, “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ . . . to suffer for Him.”  Somehow, in God’s economy, the sacrifice (intentional suffering) of His saints is a “grant” –  a positive thing, something of great value to the one who suffers.  This is not very evident when we lose a brother, as we have this week.  But in an economy absolutely reversed from the world, in God’s economy, there is no greater love!

Just as Christ has sacrificed Himself for us, each of you, including Hadleigh, has chosen to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel.  Thank you for being willing to take less than you could have so that others might have the chance to hear of the sacrifice of Jesus.

In just a few hours I will be flying out of London for Gove, north Australia.  My desire is to be with Bill Harding and the team and in some way come along side them to help bear the incredible burden they are carrying at this time.  I covet your prayers for all of these dear people along with Hadleigh’s family at this time.  Thank you.

In Him,

Ron

From one of our Learning Technologies partners in Kenya:

We had a great time with Mike, though we could not meet on Friday, for fear of fresh wave of rioting after another MP was shot. The church in Kenya has never been praying like the way it has been lately and we thank God for answering our prayers. My family members are all fine and I thank God. Please pass my regards to all MAF staff that know me.

“Americans, to be sure, have a reputation for being generous people. Among all Americans, Christians are known for being even more big-hearted with their dollars. And among those who are known as Christians, we evangelicals have regularly supposed that we top the list in our giving for world missions. Well, all that is true—and it’s still embarrassing…”

Read the rest of this article from World Magazine.