Recently God has lead me to form a Mission Mobilization Ministry to assist churches to engage people who have never heard the Gospel with the message of God in an effective way. I have formed a 501(c)3 ministry, called Church Unleashed Global, Inc. I have a board of trustees who oversee our work and hold us accountable.

There are roughly 12,000 different people groups in our world. They are each distinct in their culture, their story, their language, their lives. Roughly half of those people groups are classified as Unreached by missiologists. Of the Unreached, approximately 3100 people groups are Unengaged Unreached. That means they have absolutlely no church, no mission organization, no one attempting at the present time to share the Gospel with them.

Over the last 5 years, God has allowed me to lead a typical church to travel to a village of Mali, West Africa 25 times. We have seen God do incredible things in planting churches in villages that had never heard of Jesus before. What we did there any church can do. But they need someone to help them, and that is the heart of what I am trying to do.

This ministry is only possible through the prayers and faith gifts of God’s people.
So if you truly would like to be a part of seeing every ethnic group on this planet engaged in an effective manner, if God has blessed you, if perhaps over the years God used me in any way as a part of your walk or growth in Christ, would you consider being a faithful prayer partner, and a financial supporter.

While some could give significantly more, even the amount of a Big Mac, Fries, and a drink, by enough people would make the difference. Would you at least pray and ask God if He wants you to be a part of this ministry.

If you want to ask questions about the work, you can contact me at bradbessent@msn.com, or here on facebook. If you want to talk, I will give you my phone number through a private message or email.

A monthly gift from enough people will make a significant difference. If you want to be a part, you can make your check payable to and mail it to the Columbia Metro Baptist Association,1929 Gadsden St., Columbia, SC. On the memo line of the check write, Church Unleashed Global. It is completely tax deductible. Consider having your bank automatically send it each month and you won’t have to remember.

Just think, giving up a starbucks latte once a week, or even fasting one day at lunch, instead of eating out, could make the difference in someone hearing the Gospel. I need your help. Thanks for reading this far.

I have written a couple of blog posts recently about church leader termination. I would say it was enough, but they seem to have drawn more attention than some of the other posts, so I thought I would offer a final thought on the matter.

In I Samuel 24, there is an interesting story about David and King Saul. God has already made a decision to replace Saul with David as king over Israel. Saul in all of his continuing jealousy is seeking David to destroy him. One day as he travels, the Bible says that Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself, and David and his men are hiding in the cave. David’s men say, “Look, David, God has delivered Saul into your hands. This is your big opportunity. Kill him.”

Instead of killing Saul, David cuts off the corner of Saul’s garments, but even that pricks his conscience, and David declares, “Far be it from me, I cannot lift my hand against God’s anointed.”

So many today would reason, God has promised to replace Saul with me as King. Then circumstances line up for us to do something and take the matter into our own hands. So we think, “Oh, this means God wants me to do this.” But David is above that. He realizes that God doesn’t need his help. God put Saul in power, and God will remove him at exactly the right time, and it doesn’t require David to take matters into his own hands.

What does that say about churches that fire pastors? I am not saying that there is never a time to act; certainly issues of morality. But if we truly believe God “calls” a pastor, a leader, then why do we think He needs our help when that person doesn’t seem to be the one we think is right for our church? Do you want a “hireling.” Jesus talks about the difference in a “True Shepherd” and someone who is simply hired. So do we want a God-called man, or a church-hired man? And if we want the called one, dare we lift our hand against God’s anointed?

I have known for quite some time that my smart phone is smarter than me. More significantly that my children are capable technologically beyond my capacity to do. I learned a long time ago that I needed my kids to program the VCR clock, and to set up my computers. But I was totally blown away yesterday.

I had engaged in texting with one of my girls about setting up an appointment with someone she worked with, and I had given her some options. Suddenly my I-phone dings, and I look down and she has placed an event, date, and time on my phone calendar. I don’t know how to do that. I mean, I struggle trying to figure out how to put a time on my own calendar. So how did she schedule something from her desk downtown to my phone as I sat at my desk in my home office?

The apostle Paul speaks in Romans 7 of wanting to do what is good and right, but continually battling his sin nature and doing what is wrong and what he doesn’t want to do. The truth is, as frail and finite humans, with a flawed character and a sin nature, we cannot just simply change who we are by a simple decision, “I will do better.” We may change some minor habits with some self=help behavioral modification process, but we cannot deal with the root problem of sin on our own.

But when we experience a rebirth, a new life through Jesus Christ, God in the person of the Holy Spirit comes to live in our heart. And for all practical purposes as we abide in Him, God downloads onto the hard-drive of our hearts nine characteristics called the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. WOW>

Just like I struggle with programming something onto my phone calendar, and my daughter can do it long distance; what I cannot do in my life, God does. So that the apostle Paul could write, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I still live. But the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God. . . ” (Ga. 2:20) It is God living through me in the person of the Holy Spirit. God changes me. God “re-programs” my heart. Hallelujah,

A common cold; a stumped toe; a hangnail; eternally separated from God; a pimple on my face. I could be really ugly at this point and comment on some comments, but I won’t. I could be really insensitive and talk about some recent conversations, but again, I will restrain myself. I could revisit some previous blogs, but you might think I am just being lazy.

There are approximately 3100 people groups in our world with no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That means they have absolutely no idea there is a Savior who loves them. They have never even heard his name. That 3100 people groups are not even on any evangelical strategy list at the moment. And yet in any given year, less than 2% of the resources of the church in America are given over to the work of sharing Christ with these unengaged peoples.

Oh no, I have a cold and don’t feel 100%, or I stubbed my toe and it hurts a little. But wait, could it really be that we are just plain casual about the lostness of people who don’t know Christ. Now I have no idea who actually reads these blogs. So if you are one who believes in some universalistic God who overlooks sin and lostness, there is no need to comment on the blog because I won’t approve it. I am reaching out to those who should know better.

Can we honestly continue to build our “Six Flags over Jesus” theme parks to entertain comfortable “Christians” once a week, or are we ready to face our call to “Go into all the world and make disciples” of every people group? Will we explore the heart of God as it is revealed in the world and begin to pray that He turns our heart toward His for those who have not heard? Do the countless millions into the billions have any reason to think that if they manage to hold on long enough we will bring the Good News to them in time? Will we stop living out the “Great Omission” and begin obeying the “Great Commission?”

Every Christian can heed God’s call to prayer. We can pray for God to send laborers into His harvest. Most Christians can give. We can give of our treasures to the work of missions that all might hear. And in fact many, if not most, can “Go”. Surely there are some who legitimately cannot go. But what if our prayers were “God, I am planning to go, but I am willing to stay,” instead of our attitude really being, “OK, God if you push me I will go, but I do not really plan to.”

By the way, if you didn’t answer the question of the title, a common cold, a stumped toe, a hangnail, and a pimple, under most circumstances are pretty much the same, they are minor inconveniences. Lostness, that is separation from God, it is eternal, and it is beyond serious, it is the greatest problem we can have. There is Good News and God has entrusted it to our stewardship. Let’s be diligent, not casual about addressing the matter.

And as an extra note, if you thought the one thing that was not the same was the white guy in the picture, you really missed the point. Biblically, there is really only one race of people, the HUMAN RACE. Yes, God is a creative God, and there is a rich diversity of ethnicity, but a common relation in that all were created in the image of God.

At the end of Luke 4 Jesus is preparing to depart from Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He has had a fruitful ministry there, but He is about to go somewhere else. The people press Him to remain with them, and Jesus says, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

Over the last few years as the church I served worked in Mali, sometimes I would hear someone ask, “Aren’t there lost people here in our community? Why do we need to spend thousands of dollars and fly hundreds of miles to go somewhere else?” So consider this statement of Jesus in Luke 4. What are the implications of the words of Jesus for the church today.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus speaks of being His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Some folks act like that is a sequential process. When we finish in Jerusalem, we can move out to the surrounding area of Judea, and when that is complete we can move on to Samaria, and eventually to the ends of the earth. But there is nothing in that passage to suggest that is what Jesus had in mind. It is instead a simultaneous work. We are responsible for all.

God’s heart from Genesis 3 to the last chapter and last verse of the Revelation is that peoples of every tribe, every people group, every language, every kindred have access to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also.” He also said, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” We must not keep the message to ourselves. We must carry it that all may hear.

Our dog is a small white rescue animal, obviously abused in a previous life, and so normally timid. She likes to act tough, hiding behind a door, or with one of us close by. She is slender and probably stands 12 to 18 inches off the ground.

One day last week just after dark, my wife let her out the back door. She took up in a streak toward the back corner of the yard at the edge of the woods, barking for all her might. Shining a flashlight ahead of the dog, my wife could see two seedy eyes reflecting back. Suddenly the “animal” lit out toward the dog, which spun around, began yelping in a high pitch, and running for her life. Good thing for her she is fast, real fast.

Every indication is that the animal we have only seen in the dusk darkness is a fox. It moves like a fox, its shadowy form looks to be a fox. And this behavior between the dog and the fox is almost a daily thing.

I cannot help but think this morning that the dog is much like the church can sometimes be. We have a real enemy that sneaks around in the shadows and hiding in the darkness, but ever ready to attack us. We can bark loudly, but then at times run for our lives when there is a full frontal attack.

The Word of God cautions, “Be strong in the Lord.” And we are to put on the whole armor of God. But Eph. 6 reminds us the battle is one of prayer. Amazingly, there is no armor for our backside. God never intends for us to turn tail and run for our lives. We are to stand fast. My dog can run fast. Fortunately for her my wife was standing fast, and the fox turned and ran.

Are you standing fast in prayer? Are you praying for those around you who started after the enemy, but have suddenly found themselves under full attack? Fight the good fight. Be strong in the Lord. Pray with all your might. Those are instructions we are given. (By the way, the outcome has already been determined. Jesus won the fight for us on the cross. And like my wife in the dog’s defense, He stands fast in intercession on our behalf.)

I am confident that I must have disappointed my mother so many times in my life. But I do not remember her ever saying she was disappointed in me. I know there were multitudes of times that I had to confide in her some failure in my life, but she always instilled in me the awareness that she believed I could do better, or be better.

My Dad taught me that honesty and integrity mattered. My Dad taught me that anything worth doing was worth doing right. My Dad taught me to give my best in anything I attempted to do. My Dad taught me to fish and how to do a science project. My Dad taught me the value of a hard day’s work.

But my Mom taught me the value of love, and she modeled it for me all my life. When I found myself in deep and difficult places she was always there. My Mother has never quit worrying whether I get home safely from a trip, even though I am
almost 62 years old. My Mom can sometimes find things to worry about for me when
there is nothing to worry about. But I know that is because she loves so deeply.

The Bible teaches, “So these three remain, faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” The Bible teaches that God loves us with an unconditional love. My Mom has modeled that unconditional love for me all of my 62 years. Thank you for loving me, Mom. Thanks for teaching me about love, and always modeling unconditional love. Thank you for believing in me, no matter what. Thank you for teaching me no matter how many times I might fall and fail that your love will never waver. Thank you for giving me strength and courage to get back up. Because in your love for me, I have seen the heavenly Father’s love. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.

I confess! I am an “A personality” and I like to come to the end of every day and be able to measure what I have accomplished. Couple that with the words of a good friend and mentor who said, “Your job for the next two months is to secure the finances for your ministry.” So at the end of each day, I have looked back and thought, “How many people did I share the vision with today? How many commitments were secured? Have I done . . . etc.”

It was a good word from another dear friend and mentor yesterday who offers balance in my life. “Rest in your calling,” he said. “Be secure in Your heavenly Father who promised to provide all that you need from His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.” So today I am looking myself in the mirror and reminding myself, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” and “Wait on the Lord.”

None of that means lay back in a hammock and do nothing. It means keep sowing the seeds of the Gospel of the Kingdom and let God bring the harvest. AMEN.

I received a text message the other evening from a friend saying he had resigned under pressure (polite way of saying fired) after 13 years as pastor of the church. The reason that he was given was the strong focus on missions and discipleship. Huh? Seriously? He spoke of the “controllers” who weren’t happy.

Another friend had served more than 20 years and was terminated as pastor late last year. He was told by those who had always run the church, ‘You brought evangelism to our church.’ What did you say?

I had lunch with a third friend, just yesterday and he was asked to resign in December. Once again because of refocusing the life of the church back to discipleship. So what in the world is going on.

It seems to me that the Bible says something about idols, and people becoming like the idols that they fashion. Whose church is it? Whose mission is it? Are we serving up a “have it your way” mentality that produces McChurchlife?

One source states that on average 1,500 pastors walk out of the pulpit each and every month. Of those who remain, 50% are so discouraged that if they could afford to, would leave the ministry now. Depression plagues 70% of our pastors and over half of their marriages will end in divorce. (source; Maranatha Ministries Life line for Pastors)

Why? #1 reason pastors leave the ministry – Church people are not willing to go the same direction and goal of the pastor. Pastor’s believe God wants them to go in one direction but the people are not willing to follow or change.
(Statistics provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care Inc.)

Here are some other stats just for information:
* 90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
* 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. Many pastor’s children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents.
* 33% state that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
* 75% report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.
* 90% feel they are inadequately trained to cope with the ministry demands.
* 50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
* 70% say they have a lower self-image now than when they first started.
* 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
* 40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
* 33% confess having involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church .
* 50% have considered leaving the ministry in the last months.
* 50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years.
* 1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
* 94% of clergy families feel the pressures of the pastor’s ministry.
* 66% of church members expect a minister and family to live at a higher moral standard than themselves.
* Moral values of a Christian is no different than those who consider themselves as non-Christians.
* The average American will tell 23 lies a day.
* The profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above “car salesman”.
* Over 4,000 churches closed in America last year.
* Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
* Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month , many without cause.
* Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.
* Many denominations report an “empty pulpit crisis”. They cannot find ministers willing to fill positions.
(Statistics provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care Inc.)