Three More Cows!

The photos are three more Kenya pastors with their new milk cows purchased by friends of Search And See!

1. Pastor Jacob Kitui Wabuke, pastor at preaching point Moi’s Bridge. Pastor Jacob has a wife and four children. His cow was purchased by Josh and Diana Culbertson and he is waiting for a sponsor.
2. Pastor Arthur Mahiga Jhaji, pastor at preaching point Muhubu. Pastor Arthur has a wife and three children. His cow was purchased by Standing Springs Baptist Church, Simpsonville, SC and Sam and Cookie Chapman are his sponsors.
3. Pastor Conrad Kutwa, pastor of preaching point Bulukhova. Pastor Conrad has a wife and child. Plus, he has taken in two children to care for. His cow was purchased by Reed and Sandy Volk and they are also his sponsors.

**Only 1 more cow to purchase and 7 more sponsors to completely support the pastors of Search And See Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda! You can purchase a cow for $400 and support a pastor with $60/month.

Pastor - You Must Listen to This Sermon!

When is the last time you listened to a sermon and were shaken to the core because it seemed as if the actual text of Scripture was written just for you! Who says the Bible is not relevant?!? It is alive and active and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.

Phil Johnson delivered a message entitled “Korah’s Rebellion” from the familiar passage in Numbers 16 where Korah incites a rebellion against Moses. By referring to the mention of Korah in Jude, Johnson makes the observation that the same kind of rebellion led by Korah against Moses occurs in the church today! It was startling to see how accurate he was (or Jude was) in that observation.

A friend sent this sermon to me and said, “This will be well worth your 51 minutes.” It was! I say the same to you. Take the time pastor and listen to this one! If you haven’t lived through it, you may. If you have, it will help you put your experience in perspective. If you never experience it, chances are you will have friends in ministry who do. The wisdom you glean from Johnson’s step by step unpacking of this text will prove extremely profitable!

Click here.

The Purpose of "God with Us": A Christmas Meditation

The Purpose of “God with Us”:

A Christmas Meditation

God with us - the Glorious Incarnation

Dwelling with us - such holy condescension

God for us - the Wondrous Crucifixion

Dying for us - accomplishing Redemption

God in us - the Mysterious Union

Living in us - progressing sanctification

Us with God - the Final Salvation

Dwelling with God - everlasting Glorification

God in Christ was with us, so that God in Christ might be for us, so that God in Christ might be in us, so that we in Christ might be with God!

Incarnation eventually ends in Glorification - both ours and Christ’s!

Merry Christmas!

Turning Christmas Back to Christ

A few weeks ago I was speaking with a little kid, and I asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He immediately lit up, like all kids, and launched into a spirited discussion. What he began to share with me, however, was unexpected and proved to be a moment of enlightenment for me. He started listing for me all the gifts he had received the past two Christmases and what he was looking for this year. One could hardly miss that his list was comprised of high dollar items, but that was not what surprised me. After finishing his list, he did not say a word about what he liked about these “toys” or how he had enjoyed having them. His final remark was “We always get expensive Christmas gifts!” It was hard for me to hide from everyone around that I was choking!

This blog is not an indictment on that boy or his parents. In fact, I highly respect his parents for the structures they have put in place to raise their kids in the admonition of the Lord. It was simply a wake up call for me because he said “it,” but we have all let some of “it” into our lives and into our Christmas! What is “it”? Christmas is more about us than Jesus!

Christmas is one time in the year that we can have a good excuse to spend a lot of money on ourselves! Christmas is the occasion we wait for so that we can splurge and indulge and not feel guilty about it. (Sometimes - we can’t even wait till Christmas! We have to have those things so bad, we get Christmas “early”!)

We may sing a carol or read the Christmas story in order to prove that we are not as selfish, materialistic, and out-of-focus as the rest of the world, but let’s be honest, the first thing on our minds Christmas morning is not the Babe in the manger but that box with My name on it under the tree!

Tragically, our children follow quickly in our footsteps!

After reflecting on these things for some time, this is what I have planned for my family as an attempt to turn our focus back to Christ this Christmas and not so much on the toys, trinkets, gadgets, and clothes.

Before Christmas:

1. We didn’t buy a lot of gifts for our children. (and it’s not just because Daddy doesn’t have a job right now, although honestly that helped me make the transition!) They each have a stocking, a gift from Mom and Dad, and a gift from each other. That’s it. Some might think we are unfair, unloving, or even slighting our children. Nothing could be further from the truth. Christmas is about the One God gave to us not what all we can get! The truth is by the time we finish visiting family, they will have more toys than they know what to do with. Why should we be just another toy manufacturer? We want to be their teachers. We want them to remember the True Meaning long after they have forgotten, broken, and traded in their toys!
2. Special Movie Night. Friday nights are designated as “movie night” for me and my children. This Friday happens to be Christmas Eve. It’s a great opportunity to teach. So after the popcorn and cookies are made, we will snuggle on the couch and watch “The Nativity Story.”

Christmas Morning:

1. Yes, we are going to sing Christmas carols and read the Christmas story from the Bible!
2. I’m going to take this opportunity to share with the kids about gifts, about grace. I want to communicate to them that really no one in our family should get a gift on Christmas! I know what you’re thinking right now . . . “What?!? How dare you?!? Are you sick??!!” However, if we want to be totally honest, none of us has been entirely nice all year. We have all been naughty at times. We have all sinned. We do not deserve anything at all for Christmas! (I know you don’t like to hear that, but it is true!) However, that is what makes grace amazing! I want to share with my kids that they are receiving gifts this year not because they have been good all year but because Mom and Dad want them to know we love them! Then, I can take them straight to the Gospel and speak about how by grace God gave us His Son, the first and best Christmas gift, because He loved us even while we were sinners!

Christmas Day:

1. For lunch, we are going to our church, Mountain Community Fellowship, Paintsville, KY, and help deliver Christmas dinners to the shut-in and less fortunate. I am looking forward to this more than anything this Christmas! I hope to instill in my kids that serving others is a greater joy than ripping open presents!
2. We plan to close the day enjoying a meal with friends. Again, fellowship and community are greater gifts than toys!

These are just a few things we are doing this year to turn Christmas back to Christ! It’s really not hard, expensive, or frustrating to do (as buying a ton of gifts sometimes gets). We could do better and more. I hope that one day Christmas becomes, for our family, totally about others and not at all about us. But we (or really, I) have a ways to go yet to reach that goal!

Merry Christmas!

Dr. MA Thomas' Memorial Service

For those of you, who like me, loved Dr. MA Thomas dearly but were unable to travel to India to attend his funeral, the following link is a ten-part video of the service.

click here

What a wonderful, blessed occasion as hundreds of people, many from other religions, came to pay homage to such a gracious life. The crowd in attendance and the fond words of eulogy all testify to one of the most profound Christian witnesses of our era.

Dr. Samuel Thomas preaches a message to honor his father, and in it, shares the glorious Gospel. MA Thomas, who is known as “Papa” by thousands who once were orphans, would have it no other way.

Because he gave everything to the ministry, Dr. MA never owned a car, a home, or a bank account. In his will, Dr. Samuel found these words:

“To my son Samuel, my will for you is God’s will for you!”

Enjoy the home-going service of a life well-lived for the glory of the Lord!

*Come to India with us in 2011 to visit and minister with Hopegivers International! Oct 2011. 2 weeks. contact us for details.

38 Special

No, I’m not referring to the band or the handgun. I am referring to my birthday. Today, I turned 38 years old. Now if you know me and know my current circumstances you may be wondering, “What’s so special about it?” That would be a very good question considering . . .

Turning 38 is definitely worlds apart for me than turning 37. Last year at this very time, I was in an entirely different situation. I was filled with hope, anticipation, and enthusiasm for what could be. Boy, how things change in one year’s time!

Turning 38, I find myself in a set of circumstances I did not imagine one year ago. I fought a battle this year that I hoped I would not have to fight. As a result, while I stood my ground in one sense, I lost ground in another. As I celebrate 38 years of life today, I am living in someone else’s home, I am driving a vehicle that was given to me because I could not afford one, most of my belongings, especially my books!, are boxed in storage, and I am in between jobs!

So, again you may be wondering, “Wil, what’s so special about today, given your present circumstances?” I’m glad you asked!

Turning 38 is not about me but about the One who made me, saved me, called me, continues to conform me, and will one day transform me! What makes 38 so special is that every one of those 38 are undeserved blessings! The special thing about turning 38 is that I am turning 38! Every single day represented in my life is a gift from God. God has been exorbitantly, abundantly, unbelievably gracious to me for 38 years, and I have not earned, merited, deserved, or achieved one single grace!

I did wake up this morning living in someone else’s home, and by God’s grace the owners represent a host of people who are dear friends. You don’t make lifelong friends; they make you. God has graciously sent us solid, loving, encouraging, godly friends who love, support, and pray for us. I also woke this morning to stirring renditions of “Happy Birthday” sung by my loving, devoted, faithful wife and my two precious, adorable children. It simply doesn’t get any better than that—amazing grace! Friends and family have already contacted me today to wish me well. Tonight we will enjoy the company of friends and the blessing of a meal. There is no doubt, 38 is special, but these beloved graces are not the most special part.

Last night I thought over 37 years. I do wish I would have done more for the Lord, but I don’t see how He could have done more for me! I was given life. I have been given new life. One day, I will embrace everlasting life. It’s all by His grace. All praise and glory to God my Father and Jesus Christ my Lord! He has made 38 special!

Book Review: The Gospel for Muslims

The Gospel for Muslims: An Encouragement to Share Christ with Confidence. By Thabiti Anyabwile. Chicago: Moody, 2010.

On one of my flights to Kenya this past October, I sat by a Muslim man. We entered into friendly discussion after I observed him praying and requesting vegetarian meals. He was a very open, kind gentleman. We enjoyed genuine honest discussion concerning the similarities and vast differences of our faiths. At one point, he even allowed me to open my Bible and read some pointed scriptures to him. I do trust the Lord will use my meager attempt to draw him to faith. During our conversation, I remember thinking in the back of my mind, “When I get home, I am going to read Thabiti’s book!” I did, and it proved to be a tremendous help to me.

One of Thabiti’s key points was a pleasant surprise for me. He writes, “As a Christian you already know everything you need to know to effectively share the good news of Jesus Christ with Muslim people. The same message that saves us—the gospel—is the message that will eternally change our Muslim neighbors and friends” (p.13). I needed to hear that! While different people may require different approaches, the core, fundamentals of a gospel presentation are always the same. In order to be saved, we must share the gospel truth. It alone will bring salvation, even to Muslims. The purpose of the book then is to encourage Christians to share their faith with Muslim people. He states, “This is why this book was written: to encourage ordinary Christians in the extraordinary power of the gospel” (p.23).

Therefore, Thabiti’s first section is dedicated to rehearsing some of the fundamental elements of the gospel such as the difference between God and Allah, man’s sinful nature, the deity and sacrifice of Christ, and the necessity of faith and repentance. This study is covered in five chapters and is an extremely helpful reminder, not only in witnessing to Muslims, but in witnessing to anyone.

Recognizing though that there are valuable insights when engaging Muslims since they do represent a different culture, the second section offers a few pointers. In order to share with Muslims, Christians should “Be Filled with the Spirit,” “Trust the Bible,” “Be Hospitable,” “Use Your Local Church,” and “Suffer for the Name.” This section also includes a chapter on witnessing to African-American Muslims.

One of the key insights for me in this book was learning how the Quran itself becomes a witnessing tool for the true Gospel. After all, a Muslim will pay attention to what the Quran says. In fact, this is exactly what led Thabiti to faith in Christ. As he shares in the opening pages, “The Quran plainly taught that Jesus was born of a virgin (Sura 3:42-50) . . . that the Torah, Psalms of David, and the Gospels were books revealed by Allah (Sura 4:163-65; 46-48; 5:46-48; and 6:91-92)” (p.20). In addition, “nowhere does the Quran teach that the Bible was corrupted or changed” (p.20). If therefore, a Muslim will acknowledge this and read the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospels, a great conflict will ensue. If the Quran affirms these scriptures, then they must be taken as true. These scriptures affirm the God of the Bible, man’s sinfulness, Christ’s substitution, and the necessity to repent and believe in Christ alone for salvation. In other words, the Quran can actually be used to introduce Muslims to the true revelation of God in the Bible! It will logically come down to this: either the Bible or the Quran is true. If the Bible is true, then the Quran’s core teachings are false. If the Quran is true, then how does one explain its affirmation of major biblical portions which contradict the Quran’s teachings? Either way, the Quran comes into question, not the Bible. For me, that was the most surprising and helpful insight of the entire work.

In terms of weaknesses, even though Thabiti used personal encounters throughout, I would have loved to read more specific answers to specific Muslim objections. That being said, however, Thabiti’s point was not to rely so much on winning a debate as relying on the power of the Gospel. Mission accomplished then, at least I think so.

I would commend this book to any Christian who might frequently, occasionally, or ever once and a while, encounter a Muslim. In today’s world, that means all of us!

Cows for Pastors in Uganda!

Thanks to two of our supporters, and all praise to God, Search And See has purchased two milk cows for the two Search And See pastors of Uganda!

1. Pastor George Wandera, pictured with his family and new milk cow. Pastor Wandera serves the Sigalame church in Uganda. His cow was purchased by Jim, Judi, Jimmy, Shavaun, and Anna Marie Skaggs, and they also are his sponsor.

2. Pastor James Sande, pictured with his family and new milk cow. Pastor James serves the Bunyetiti church in Uganda. His cow was purchased by Bruce and Rita Owens, and they also are his sponsor.

*There is also a picture of some of the school children of Search And See school, Tiriki.

***Only 1 more cow and 7 more sponsors to complete full sponsorship of every Search And See pastor in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda!

In Loving Memory of Dr. MA Thomas (1936-2010)

An enormous, joyful, tearful, and meaningful worship service took place today in Kota, Rajasthan, India. Family, friends, and co-laborers laid the body of Dr. MA Thomas to rest, celebrated his life, and rejoiced that he is now in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

If Paul the Apostle had not been the first to pen the words, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain," they certainly could have been attributed to MA Thomas because he lived and died that way!

Born in 1936, Dr. Thomas graduated from Hindustan Bible College in 1960. Although he was offered the opportunity to work for Campus Crusade for Christ, Asia, he rather decided to go to a hard place and be a missionary. His friends urged him not to go to Kota, for no Christian had survived there for too long. But he was determined to give his life for Christ. He said, "If I reach Kota and win one soul for Christ, it will be worth it." So he and his very pregnant wife, Ammini, boarded a train headed for Kota with very little funds in their pockets.

When they arrived, they rented a small one-room, metal garage. That shed served as their home and church. Dr. Thomas began immediately passing out tracks and sharing the Gospel. In a short time, two new believers were ready for baptism. From that small beginning in 1960 until today, the story of MA Thomas and Hopegivers International is one miracle after another!

The focus of his life was to take in orphans off the street, clothe them, educate them, care for them, and evangelize them. When old enough, they would enter the Bible College. After obtaining graduation, they would be sent to the field to start a new work in a new place. This process was repeated over and over, thousands of times. It did not come without costs. Dr Thomas endured many trials and persecutions, even imprisonment and beating. Some pastors of Hopegivers have even been martyred for their faith. Dr. Thomas lived without any possessions and died the same way because he gave all he had to the orphans, students, and pastors. Through it all, God richly blessed the work.

Today, as a result of his life, there are literally hundreds of orphanages, schools, Bible colleges, leper ministries, and churches scattered throughout India and the 10/40 Window. The ministry of Hopegivers, which Dr. Thomas oversaw, has planted over 30,000 churches!

He really did live to Christ, and without a doubt, when he saw Jesus on Sat, Dec 4, he knew then more than ever, death is really gain! His life could be summed up in the words that his son Samuel always says, "To God be the Glory, great things He has done!"

In God's gracious providence, I was given the awesome privilege to meet, work with, pray with, visit, and know personally this wonderful, godly man! He seemed to me to be a modern-day Apostle Paul. He was and remains a spiritual hero. God used him profoundly in my Christian walk to strip away the nonessentials and focus my eyes on Christ, the Gospel, and the lost! I am a better believer and pastor because I knew him. More than that, I love him, and I anxiously await the day when I will join him in joyful singing around the throne of God!

For a short film on MA Thomas' life, click here.

To get involved in the ministries of Hopegivers for orphans, students, pastors, and churches, visit their site: hopegivers.org.

In Oct 2011, Search And See will conduct a mission trip to India and work with Hopegivers' ministries. If you would like to go, keep watching the blog for more details or contact us at searchandsee@me.com.

Upcoming Preaching Opportunity

This Sunday, Dec 12, I have the privilege to preach the 11am service at Mountain Community Fellowship, Paintsville, KY! I am really thankful that Pastor Jason has entrusted me with this awesome task. In addition, I will also be able to make my books available at MCF's resource table. If you were not able to attend my book signings, you will be able to purchase my books on any Sunday at MCF!

3 More For Christmas!

Only 3 more cows to purchase, and we will be able to provide every pastor of Search And See, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda with a much needed milk cow. These cows help the pastors provide for their families. How great it would be if each pastor could have a cow before Christmas. A cow can be purchased for $400. If you would like to donate toward this project, please send gifts to "Search And See, PO Box 1304, Paintsville, KY 41240."

Dec Update - Search And See

Dear Friends:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! I trust this update finds you well and rejoicing in the goodness and graces of our Savior! It is always a delight to share with our friends and supporters the wonderful ministry opportunities we have enjoyed in recent days.

Kenya Project: Through the generosity of our friends and fellow mission team members, we have raised funds for 12 cows for pastors and we have 9 pastors sponsored thus far!!!!!! This is amazing! Only 3 more cows and 6 more sponsors, and we will complete this project! A milk cow can be purchased for $400 and provides the pastor and his family with milk and some income. A pastor can be sponsored for $60/month, and this support provides for the needs of his home so that he can concentrate on ministry. When you purchase a cow and/or sponsor a pastor, you will receive a photo and some info on a pastor.

Sermon Ministry: 268 sermons were downloaded in Nov to 29 States and 21 Nations! We continue to air sermons in Liberia as well!

Book-signings: In 2 stops 20 books were purchased. A huge, BIG “thank you” to our friends who stopped by to support and encourage!

Upcoming Trip: Myanmar and India - Oct 2011!!!!! 3,000.00 Exact dates will be set soon after the first of the year. $500 deposit due Feb 1. Pastor Conference, Seminary Graduation, Bible College, Churches, Orphans, Evangelism, and more!!!!!!!

Upcoming Preaching Opportunity: Sunday, Dec 12, 11am, Mountain Community Fellowship, Paintsville, KY.

Future Projects: We hope to design and launch a website soon. Plus, I am beginning work on a fourth book written as a guide for parents to help teach children about salvation in Christ. I’m really excited to get started!

Please continue to remember us in prayer as we seek the Lord’s direction and confirmation for His next pastoral assignment!

Merry Christmas!

Wil Owens

Galatians 2:20