Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday March 21, 2007

On yesterday I sent my letter and it is now being referred to as a 'missile' and not in the Catholic sense. Talk about a few preachers and at ease in Zion hangers on being as mad a wet hen, and you have some idea of the vitriol hurled at me, a sweet, humble and ignorant Baptist preacher simply trying to win souls and eek out a mere living. The bulk of the prayerful and deeply Christian vitriol involves the recounting of a certain missionary, name withheld, who was certain the Lord wanted him to start a new church, but that it would be wise to start in a needy area that already contained a Christian School. After all, God would not expect him to 'sacrifice' his children the wicked public school. Yesterday was a grand day for me for as near as I can tell I reached over one million people with the message. Yes, I did upset many. You have no idea how upset, at ease in Zion Saints of the Most High God, upset me.

I did receive a rather courageous note from a missionary who has served enough years to be near legendary for his zeal and tenacity. His daughter grew up in an Amazon Rain Forest and now serves as a missionary in Venezuela, translating the Word of God into the language of a primitive tribe. She is developing a language for them. She now has to do this in the states due to the current leftist dictator ordering all American missionaries out of the country.

Here is the note of encouragement I received:

Dear Larry,
I think that you are right on with this. I am Bruce Higham, a missionary with New Tribes Mission serving in Paraguay with the Ayore Indians. We once had lunch together at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Some missionary candidates now are wanting to work where there is electricity, Internet and phone service. I hope to have all of these, but they cannot be considered a requirement to determining where the Lord would have me minister. Keep up the good work!
Bruce N. Higham

I often joke that I wish the Lord would call me to minister to the heathen in Beverly Hills, California! Everyone laughs and rightly so, for who cares about the rich heathen who shop on Rodeo Drive. Many of our so called, 'Christian Soldiers,' demand to be served all of the conveniences of those pathetic souls who live the Hollywood lifestyle.

I have known of Bruce for years and I was overjoyed to meet him a few years ago. Now some of his relatives attend our church. Wow. His mission board is and has been the subject of much conversation, but I suggest that the way they train those who represent Christ may be the best training on the face of the earth in that they insist the missionaries live as near the level of poverty of the target people as possible. No maid, no servants, no James to fetch the provisions or clean the latrine.

I recall pastoring in the Mountains in Virginia and listening as a missionary told of how hard it was to find good servants in the Congo. Half of my congregation existed in cabins with dirt floors. The missionary received mountains of sympathy.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

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