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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
Missionary Furlough
Phil Gavila
In spite of talk now and then that furlough is a waste of time I propose why I think it is a gift from God:
A. Benefits to the Churches
1. They receive a personal report from the man they support.
2. They are stirred in
missions be his preaching.
3. The pastors can question him as to specifics.
4. Young
couples answer the call to the field under his preaching. Acts 13:2; 16:10.
5. Couples
who have answered the call can receive orientation as to language training, deputation,
or culture shock.
B. Benefits to the Missionaries
1. They can visit their parents while they are still living.
2. They can re-gain their
physical health.
3. They can receive additional training.
4. They can gain a vision
from other men of God.
5. They can raise more support to combat inflation.
6. They
can obtain new equipment.
7. They pick up new ideas and fresh methods to stay out
of ruts.
8. They can acquaint their children with their national heritage.
9. They
can gain an objective view of themselves.
10. They can understand better the wishes
of pastors and churches.
11. They can acquaint themselves with their pastor and home
church. Acts 14:26-28.
C. Benefits to the National Churches
1. It provides an objective view from a distance of the weak links in the national
church.
2. New Testaments and literature can be obtained from them.
3. The quality
of a missionary’s work is tested during his absence.
4. Native leadership develops
during his absence.