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Here are 10 resolutions to consider for 2024.

1. In my quiet time, I will watch for evidence of God’s heart for the nations.

If you look for it, you’ll find it throughout the Scriptures. Highlight texts whenever you see them. The God who called out Abraham to be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1–3) is the God who deserves the worship of all the peoples, tribes, tongues and nations (Revelation 7:9–10).

2. I will pray for missionaries by name at least one day per week.

Maybe you already know a number of missionaries. If not, ask your pastor to help you connect with some for whom you can pray. Plan to regularly visit the International Mission Board website (imb.org) or visit the North American Mission Board website (namb.net) to learn missionary stories, and then pray with intentionality. Sign up to receive specific prayer requests.

3. I will learn about and pray weekly for unreached peoples.

Go to joshuaproject.net, and do some research. Prayerfully choose a people, and pray that the Gospel gets to them. Consider this truth: you may be one of the few persons in the world praying for this group.

4. I will learn about internationals in my community.

Missions begins at home, especially when God is bringing the nations to us. Talk to your pastor or local government officials to get demographic information about your community. Talk to the international student office at a local university. Find out who is around you. Get to know them. Share the Gospel with them. Pray for them.

5. I will intentionally get to know my international coworkers and neighbors.

The nations may be right around you, but perhaps you haven’t slowed down enough to get to know them. Reach out to them. Invite them to your home. You may be surprised how open they are to spending time with you and talking about spiritual backgrounds.

6. I will plan to take a mission trip this year.

Most of us can go somewhere, even if it’s in the United States. Plan to set aside the dollars and time to be a witness among the nations. If you know you can’t go this year, plan to give financial support so someone else can go. Sacrifice so many might hear the good news.

7. I will listen to and read the news through a Great Commission lens.

As you learn what’s happening in the world, think about what might be happening spiritually in countries in the news. Pray for believers and missionaries there. Then, pray for the people there who don’t know Jesus. Don’t be exasperated by the news — let it drive you to your knees.

8. I will visit ethnic restaurants in my area to get to know internationals.

It’s great to go eat, but ask to meet the owners. Talk to your servers to learn about their background. Ask about their faith. Go there regularly and get to know people in your community who may need Jesus. I think you’ll find many people willing to talk.

9. I will pray that my church pastors have a great passion for the Great Commission.

I’ve never seen a strong mission-minded church without a strong Great Commission pastor and staff. Churches seldom develop a passion that is not exhibited in the pulpit every Sunday. Pray for your pastor, and then follow his lead to the nations.

10. I will honestly consider and answer the question, “Is God calling me to be a full-time missionary?”

Every believer must ask and answer this question. Be open to God’s calling, and listen well through His Word, His Spirit and His people. And while you’re praying this way, pray for your children and grandchildren to do the same.

Don’t worry about accomplishing all of these goals, but at least start somewhere. Even one resolution toward missions is great if you’ve never had such a resolution in the past. Do something — and have a blessed and obedient 2024

For more information, go to imb.org where this article first appeared.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• CHUCK LAWLESS

• EMMANUEL KODUAH (CEO, MISSIONS TODAY)

Wrong, and both groups would likely agree on that point. Neither is it true that all Muslims are the same. Of the over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, around 85 percent of them are a sect called Sunni and 15 percent of them are a sect called Shia.

So how did this world religion end up with two major sects? It all started when Muhammad, the prophet and founder of Islam, died.

The Dispute Over Muhammad’s Successor

When Muhammad died in AD 632, a great dispute arose over who would claim his position as the leader of the new religion. Islam was more than a private religion—it dictated social and political events. The successor to Muhammad would have powerful influence over society, government and trade.

Some people thought anyone with qualifications could take over. These were the followers of “the way” (sunna) of Muhammad, and they became known as Sunni Muslims. They insisted Muhammad’s father-in-law and friend Abu Bakr take control.

Others believed that only someone from Muhammad’s family would be the rightful leader. This camp favored Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and they became known as the shi’atu Ali (“party of Ali”), or Shiite Muslims.

In the end, the majority Sunni sect got their way and Abu Bakr became the first official successor, or caliph, to the prophet Muhammad. Even so, the Shiites did not recognize Abu Bakr as legitimate and held fast to their conviction about their allegiance to Muhammad’s descendants whom they called Āl al-Bayt, the “family of the house.”

The Shiite-favorite Ali had two sons named Hasan and Husayn. After Ali and his son Hasan’s deaths, Husayn took over as the spiritual leader of Shiite Islam until AD 680 when he was killed by Sunni Muslims during a battle in Karbala, Iraq. This battle and the death of Husayn is a bitter memory for Shiite Muslims. Even centuries later, this martyrdom and the issue of rightful leadership over Islam is still the heart of the Sunni-Shiite divide.

Similarities and Differences in Religious Practice

Both sects maintain the foundational beliefs and practices of Islam. They uphold the Qur’an as the revelation of Allah and hold to Islam’s Five Pillars: giving to the poor, fasting during the month of Ramadan, practicing daily ritual prayers, taking the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and professing that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

Shiite Muslims complete all five daily ritual prayers but squeeze them into three sessions instead of five. When they prostrate for prayer, Shiite Muslims place their face on a clay tablet called a turbah. Many of these tablets are inscribed with the names of Husayn or others from the prophet’s family. For Shiite Muslims, revering the “family of the house” brings you closer to God. Shiites also hold to 10 obligatory acts beyond the basic Five Pillars.

The loss of Husayn and the leadership of Muhammad’s family cast an enduring hue of sadness over Shiite Muslims. They live in mourning, wearing black most of the year. One of the biggest Shiite holidays is the anniversary of Husayn’s death on the holiday named Ashura, the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram. On this day, Shiite Muslims in the Middle East and Asia parade in the street, chanting laments at the death of Husayn, wailing loudly and beating themselves. Some even flail themselves with chains and cut their own heads with swords.

The city of Karbala in Iraq is a pilgrimage site for Shiite Muslims, many of whom sell everything they own to visit this sacred battleground. In many locations, they even reenact the battle, believing that the recognition and reenactment of the battle at Karbala gets them closer to God. These commemorations are not limited to the Middle East. Shiite Muslims around the world—even in the United States—remember their troubled past and slain leader.

Sunni Muslims find the Shiite obsession with the house of Muhammad to be a false Islam that places undue veneration on the prophet’s family. Likewise, Shiite Muslims feel Sunnis are not true Muslims. Their sharp disagreements, unreconciled for centuries, result in a fractured Middle East and perpetually unresolved tension.

Shiites and Sunnis on the Modern Map

Saudi Arabia and Iran are the leading powers of the two branches of Islam. The heart of Sunni Islam is Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam. Iran is primarily Shiite and has been led by a Shiite Supreme Leader since its Islamic Revolution in 1979. The power play of these two countries causes constant friction within the Middle East.

Some countries in the Middle East have significant numbers of Islamic sectarian minorities. Saddam Hussein was a Sunni dictator in a largely Shiite country. After his death, reports surfaced that some Shiite Muslims present at his death danced and recited their Shiite chants in victory that they had again claimed the land of Iraq. Bahrain currently has a majority-Shiite population yet is led by a Sunni government. Various uprisings over the years complicate attempts to keep peace in the Middle East.

Understanding these tensions is a significant key to unlock headlines that describe ongoing conflicts and tensions among Muslim sects. But it’s not just in the Middle East. Shiite and Sunni Muslims live around the world—perhaps even in your own neighborhood.

Building Meaningful Relationships With Shiite and Sunni Muslims

So how should we engage our Muslim friends and neighbors in light of this context?

First, understand that most Shiite Muslims view themselves as the oppressed minority. Even fervent Shiites who complete the pilgrimage to Mecca often face mistreatment in Saudi Arabia by majority-Sunnis. This should inform our prayers. Pray that those who feel they are oppressed will understand the freedom and peace that comes through faith in Christ.

Second, show practical love to all. Whether Sunni or Shiite, all Muslims living in America are minorities. Kindness can look like showing new neighbors where to shop or where the nearest park is. Simple acts of love can go a long way in changing the way Muslims think about Christians and their Savior. Muslims are now observing Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, until June 4. Consider inviting Muslims you know to break their fast at your house for an evening meal.

Third, remember that only the truth about Christ sets us free from bondage to sin. Many Muslims approach conversations confident in their ideas against the gospel. You may find your Sunni friends, for example, quick to attack basic Christian beliefs like the authenticity of the New Testament. Yet when we lovingly share the truth of Christ, they have the opportunity to receive freedom as the Spirit opens their hearts.

We celebrate that truth. It’s the truth of a sinless Savior who took the punishment for our sins so all who trust in him for salvation can be forgiven and received into the family of God. And it’s this good news that unites the church in a call to love, a call to go, and a call to proclaim its truth among all Muslims—Sunni and Shiite.

Source: Churchleaders.com 

Last week, the husband of former Miss Mississippi was fatally shot in front of his 2-year-old child while sharing the gospel with people in Montgomery, Alabama.

Thomas Hand Jr. (37) and Christine Kozlowski Hand (33) were married in 2016 and have a son, Roman (2). The couple announce they that were expecting their second child together two days before Thomas was shot and killed. Hand also has a child and stepchild from a previous marriage.

It has been reported that Kevin Rayan, a family friend, said that Hand was standing alongside his wife and son and sharing the gospel with a family in a poor neighborhood when a mumbling, shirtless, 17-year-old male walked up to Hand and shot him.

Police say Hand was pronounced dead at the scene, and they have arrested and charged the gunman, Jerimiah Walker, with capital murder. The incident took place on January 22, 2022 around 4:30 PM on the 3100 block of Texas Street in Montgomery, Alabama.

Hand was known as someone who loved fitness and had competed as a bodybuilder. He found God in 2018, loved to study the Bible, and would frequently share the gospel with others in low-income areas in Alabama on Saturdays. He hoped that one day he’d become a preacher.

The family had just moved to Alabama from New Orleans to escape the violence that was growing in their Louisiana suburb.

Christine told Dailymail.com, “What you said is true. It was a complete random act of violence.” She also posted on her Facebook page thanking everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

“Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers during this time of the passing of my husband Tommy Hand,” Christine wrote. “I feel the love and support from everyone and just wanted to let everyone know that indeed Tommy was shot and killed last night on Texas Street in Montgomery, AL. I appreciate and welcome all of the messages, I’m just overwhelmed with all the questions and retelling of the details of what happened. I will at [a] later date release more information to explain everything to everyone.”

Christine’s sister, Danielle Kozlowski, posted on Facebook that she set up a GoFundMe page for those who wanted to help. The funds collected will go into a savings account for Hand’s son and unborn child.

“The funds raised by this account will go toward helping pay for my nephew Roman and the baby’s future expenses,” the page reads. “Any and all funds donated will be appreciated during this tough time for the Hand family. My sister Christine Kozlowski Hand will be the beneficiary for this account.”

Over $39,000 had been raised at the time this article was published. “The Hand Family, as well as The Kozlowski Family thank you all tremendously for the amount of love and support that everyone has shown,” Kozlowski wrote.

Source: Church Leader

PART ONE

Everybody is born with an indwelling dream or vision – we all want to achieve something or be someone. Dreams and visions are God’s strategy for embedding a specific portion of his eternal plans and purposes into the heart of man so that the recipient of that specific dream or vision becomes the vehicle for fulfilling that dream.

Dreams and visions are the guiding light of a man’s life – they give meaning to life. Have you ever seen a person who lacks vision? Confusion and lack of focus surround their lives. Indeed, one of the most undesirable and disheartening experiences in life is to live with an unfulfilled dream.

The lingering question to which this generation must find an answer is what causes people to abort their dreams and visions and how can we prevent this from happening?. The answer to this question and the strategy for preventing an abortion of dreams and visions lies in the individual’s ability to access the wisdom of God. Scripture clearly states people perish because they lack knowledge. ( Hos 4:6 ). It is not the bodies of the people that perish, it is their dreams and visions that perish and eventually lead to a disintegration of the society. ( Prov 29:18)

Joseph had a dream, yet he lacked the wisdom to actualize that dream. His inability to handle his dreams with wisdom and discernment almost got him killed. Beloved, it is not enough to have a dream or vision. What matters is the wisdom to nurture those dreams until the season for due manifestation.

Indeed, Joseph represents a generation blessed with destiny changing dreams and visions whose dreams and visions stand the risk of being aborted. Just as Joseph’s dream was rescued and preserved by God until the time for manifestation, God will rescue the dreams and visions of this generation by the operation of divine wisdom- all we to do is ask for wisdom ( Prov 16:16, Prov 4:6-7 ).

Joseph had an incredible life from which we can glean some nuggets of divine wisdom on how we can stop aborting our dreams and visions.

1. Get a clear understanding of your dream or vision – is it possible to safely drive a car without learning how to drive? I guess not. The same rule applies to our dreams and visions – they come with their specific operation manual. We cannot use them until we are fully acquainted with the manual. It is wise to seek clarity about a dream or vision before you act on it.

Many people kill their dreams because they do not pray for clarity or a deeper understanding of that dream or vision. Sometimes we inadvertently kill the dreams and visions of people around us because we don’t discern the true meaning of their dreams or why they are in our lives.

Joseph did not understand his dream. His father and his brothers did not understand the dream. They all saw Joseph as the focal point of the dream. But the focal point of the dream was not Joseph, but the fulfilment of God’s plan to preserve the nation of Israel.

Perhaps the reaction of Joseph’s family would have been different if they had discerned the true meaning of the dream. Can you imagine that Joseph’s brothers almost killed their saviour!!!!!. What would have been the faith of the nation of Israel if Joseph had died in that pit?

When Joseph told his father about the dream, His father observed the dream. ( Gen 37:11). The word observe is from the Hebrew word *Shamar* which mean to guard or protect. We must follow the example of Jacob, we must protect our dreams and visions by gaining divine clarity

Take time out to pray for clarity concerning your dreams and visions. Don’t pray once, pray twice, three times. Pray until you hear from the throne room of heaven, destines depend on it.

2. How you share your dream matter- All dreams have a deeper meaning embedded in God’s eternal purposes. Our dreams and visions are for the fulfilment of God’s agenda and we must share it from that point of view. When we share our dreams from our point of view rather than the point of view of God’s plan, we create confusion.

Joseph placed himself and not God’s plan at the centre of the dream when he shared his dream with his family. How Joseph shared his dream stirred up envy in the heart of his brothers and a rebuke from his father.

Beloved, allow the Holy Spirit to show how to share the dream and with whom you must share it. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you the proper timing. Remember how you share your dream matters.

3. Maintain healthy relationships- Joseph could not fulfil his dreams without the involvement of his family. The preservation of family was the reason for the dream.

We must understand that the dreams and visions we carry in our spirit are never about us, it is about the people around us and the generations to come.

We are called to be a blessing to our generation. But how can we manifest this blessing when our actions create so much hostility between us and the recipients of our blessings ?. Joseph had the habit of reporting the misdeeds of his brothers to their father (). This likely caused a lot of friction between the father and his sons.

This may have been the reason why his brothers hated him. But someone why might ask, was it wrong for Joseph to report the misconduct of his brothers? Should Joseph be hated for doing what was right?. To such people, I would humbly direct them to learn wisdom from the interaction between Nathan and David when Nathan confronted David about his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband ( 2 Sam 12). Matt 18:15-17 also gives us the strategy for dealing with offences.

Every time I read about Joseph, am not surprised that God carried him into Egypt. How could he possibly carry out the responsibility of preserving his family in such an atmosphere of hostility? His leadership would be misunderstood and rejected in such an atmosphere. The people who were supposed to be blessed by his vision would kill it. So God had to give a time out by causing a separation. Am sure that separation gave Joseph’s brothers the time to work on their relationship with their father which had possibly been damaged and also reflects on their relationship with Joseph. Joseph also learnt how to serve and care for other people besides himself.

Regardless of the shortcomings of his brothers, they were destined to be the foundation upon which the nation of Israel would be built. Joseph needed to have a good relationship with them if God’s agenda was to succeed.

We must learn to cultivate healthy relationships with people who are recipients of our visions and dreams. We cannot fulfil God’s agenda without men. A man of God once said that we live in a world dominated by men, even God will not bless or prosper us without the involvement of men.