I was reading this passage in Matthew’s Gospel from chapter 9 and verse 37:

“Seeing the people, he felt compassion for them…they were distressed and dispirited…then he said, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.’” 

The interesting part is the directive, “therefore beseech” which means that Jesus affirmed the fact that believers’ prayers participate in the fulfillment of God’s plans. 

It’s true!  Prayer makes a difference!  That’s why we need the prayers of God’s people on behalf of Frontier Missions and our ministry to help Native Americans.  Prayer makes a difference and you’re making a difference when you pray.  Thanks for praying!!

You can pray specifically this month for the trip to help John Bush and the Lakota-Sioux and the Ogallala on the Pine Ridge and Rose Bud reservations in South Dakota.   We’ll be on the road from May 19-23.  Wayne Campbell will be driving with me and I’ll be preaching on Wednesday night the 21^st.  Pray for the harvest!

So, why a magnet?  Well, if a picture is worth a thousand words, maybe the picture of the Frontier Missions’ logo will speak many words of encouragement and thanks to you as you remember this ministry and pray for us.  And, every time you open the refrigerator door you can participate in the fulfillment of God’s plans!

Sincerely,

Rick McPherson
Team Leader

“Laugh every day.  It’s like inner jogging!”

It seemed like a really good idea at the time.  Fill your pockets with Milk Bones and when the Pit Bulls come close, just toss them a treat!  Right!  Problem is, a person with a pocketful of treats is a bigger treat than a single Milk Bone.  Why trade?  Go for the big prize. 

The rationale for all this had  to do with our monthly outreach to the Yakama reservation at Celilo Falls, Oregon.  Each time we arrived we were greeted by a gang of dogs,  Pit Bulls to be exact.  Being a dog lover,  I’ve always enjoyed  them and gotten along quite well… except for Pit Bulls.  Something about them just gives me the creeps.  Too many news stories about them attacking children and people in general, have left me nervous, to say the least. 

So,  how do you deliver food boxes, door-to-door in the Celilo Falls village and avoid the Pit Bulls?   Remember, the food box itself  smells like dinner, let alone the one carrying it. Well, that’s where the beauty of a well-placed Milk Bone comes in.  Make that, several well-placed Milk Bones.  Scattered around and generously distributed, the Milk Bones become your admission ticket to the Village and they’re enough of a distraction to let you get from the front door of  your truck to the front door of the house and give away your grocery box. 

The wonderful thing about this recent trip was the last house.  Not only did they open the door and receive their food box, they also invited our team members inside to visit!  After thirty minutes of conversation and questions they knew all about Frontier Missions and the God in Heaven who loves them, accepts them and forgives them!  That’s the main thing!   You see, we work “hand-in-hand with Native Americans” to help them physically and spiritually.  But, at the end of the day the most important thing is for people to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  You might say, it’s the biggest treat of all.

In preparation for our next trip to the reservation, we’ll be sure to have  prayer, plenty of food boxes,  some New Testaments to give away,  hearts of love and compassion and of course, lots of Milk Bones!

Sincerely,

Rick McPherson
Team Leader
“Faith is the ability to not panic.”

Since I noticed the first green shoots, I’ve gone back several times to check on the progress.  And, the green shoots are still green shoots.  Hurry up!  I want to see the flowers.  I want some color.  I want some definition.  Hurry up, please.  Despite my impatience, nature will take its course and no matter  what my imposed schedule  may be the flowers will bloom when they’re good and ready and not before. 

That principle is true and right.  Whether we like it or not, God has a schedule and we can either accept it or resent it.  In fact, I read this verse and thought of the green shoots…

     “Wait  for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”                                                                                                       Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

The connotation of the word “wait” is an eager and patient anticipation of the Lord.  In other words, everything is under control (His) and our impatience is not going to change the schedule.  We can be eager and anticipate His plan and … relax! 

When I think of our ministry here at Frontier Missions and the great needs that are everywhere on the reservations, I get anxious and impatient.  I’m tempted to rush ahead of God (if you can imagine) and just get it done.  Green shoots?  Let’s make ‘em bloom by tomorrow!  But, alas they won’t.  You must wait.  You must be strong.  You must trust that God’s schedule is WAY better than yours.  Remember …

  “ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the LORD.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”  Isaiah 55: 8-9  (NLT)

So, relax!  Before you know it the green shoots will be beautiful crocus, daffodils, tulips and iris…and our Creator God and Heavenly Father will receive all the glory!

Sincerely,

 
Rick McPherson
Team Leader

“If you worry, you didn’t pray. If you pray, don’t worry.”

“Change Is Good…You Go First!”

There’s no doubt about it, all of us would like everything to stay the same, all the time, thank you very much.  Changing anything can sometimes be a hassle that we would like to avoid.  However, change is inevitable.  Life is full of it.   Reluctantly, we may accept it but only if involves the other guy.  Some would say, “change is good…you go first!” 

As I write this Annual Report, I am well aware that we have experienced significant changes at Frontier Missions, Inc. in 2007.  The changes in personnel, leadership, procedures and ministry styles have affected all of us.  In order for changes to affect us positively, each of us must embrace the changes and own them.  As I review the past year,  I believe that Frontier Missions has accepted the changes and therefore the days ahead are very bright, indeed.

Two vital aspects of this mission include the ministry review and the financial picture.  They are important because they are inextricably linked.  It takes money to do ministry.  Without margin, ministry is impossible.  The dollars and donations that have been received have enabled us to do the main thing;  tell Native Americans the Good News of Jesus Christ!

In our office we keep a Ministry Log.  Every trip, outreach, and ministry is recorded.  Here’s a  brief summary:

1. Total trips taken:   26
2. Total days involved: 63
3. Total  FMI personnel involved : 77
4. Total  mileage: 21,153
5. Ministry destinations:  Northwest Indian  Bible School, Alberton, MT;    Brunk Furnaces, Salem, OH;  Pine Ridge, SD;  Lapwai, ID;  White Swan, WA;  White Clay, NE;  Celilo, OR;  Chemawa Indian School, Salem, OR;  Heritage Christian School, Hillsboro, OR;  Wolf Point, MT and Tulalip, WA.
6. Products  delivered:  wood-burning furnaces, groceries, building supplies, house-hold goods and appliances, blankets, coats, cleaning supplies, mattresses and box springs, vehicles ( 6 ), home-made scarves and hats,  Christmas gifts and toys  and a couple of chain saws. 
7. People affected by God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness:  unknown, until we get to Heaven!

The coming year is filled with promise and ultimately, more changes.  With God’s help we will continue to “work hand-in-hand with Native Americans!”    “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT)

Respectfully submitted,

 
Rick McPherson
President  & CEO