To our readers:
We'd love to hear from you!
Send your comments, suggestions, and critiques to:
onmission@namb.net
Thanks for your interest! We look forward to receiving your responses.
Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.
Sharing a great idea
On Mission is a truly excellent resource. I thoroughly enjoy reading it; in fact, I read through most of the latest edition at one sitting. Carolyn Curtis article "Why I sleep in on Sunday" (March-April, page 52) is very helpful. The article inspired me to do something about the unchurched in my neighborhood. Heres my plan: sending each household a gift certificate to the Starbucks coffee shop right across the street from where we live. I am including tickets to our annual Easter presentation, "Living Pictures," a note from me and directions to the church. I am excited about what will happen next!
Danny Forshee Hampton, Virginia
Thanks for the great article on "Why I sleep in." It really hit home. I particularly like the cross-section approach that shows diverse opinions from different areas of the country. As a new creation in Christ, we see through different eyes from the unsaved (and often unchurched). Its important to keep the mindset of these people fresh so we can be more effective witnesses.
When faced with the objection: "There are hypocrites in church," I like to say: "Quit your job because there are certainly hypocrites there."
Rob Marks Thomaston, Georgia
The topic of "Why I sleep in on Sunday" seemed interesting, but I was offended by the artists drawing of a haggard African-American woman in the kitchen with a nagging child at her feet. Many negative stereotypes were communicated with that one picture.
Shawn Leftwich Wheaton, Illinois
The illustrations (above and below) that accompany our "Why I Sleep in on Sundays ... " series are intended to represent an Everyman image that crossesethnic and gender lines.
The previous Everyman image, also depicted humorously through an illustration, was a white male.
Editor
I enjoy your magazine very much. I dont blame you for charging for such a high quality publication.
I believe in your work. We need more on mission churches.
Helen Hussey Bord Mer, Haiti
On Mission is great, but sort of overwhelming. With so much information it might be better in a monthly format.
Bill Martin Lansing, Michigan
I am currently serving through the International Mission Board in the jungles of Eastern Bolivia.
A volunteer brought me a copy of On Mission magazine. I read it from cover to cover, which is something I usually dont do with any magazine Thanks for providing the encouragement.
Trey Wooton Bolivia Baptist Mission Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Your November-December issue had an article by Connie Cavanaugh called "Talk less, do more" (page 34). One story was about a couple named Gary and Fran. My wife, Kama, was so touched by their story that she wrote a short play based on it. We are doing this play at our Valentines Day dinner theater this year. I dont know how accurate her play is to the real life story, but my purpose in writing this is to express thanks to Connie and the "real" couple for the article.
As a pastor of a Southern Baptist church in Canada I want to say that youre doing a great job!
George Clarke, Pastor New Life Christian Fellowship Salmo, British Columbia
I found the article "Messiah for my family" by Jan Dorward (page 39, November-December) very interesting.
As a Messianic Jew I empathize with her since we both have concerns about our families not having an intimate relationship with Yeshua.
Oliver W. Bailey Ponce, Puerto Rico
Cooking up good ideas
I want you to know how much I appreciate your VeggieTales article in the January-February 2000 issue (page 8) of On Mission.
I am the resort ministry coordinator in the Branson, Missouri, area for the Tri County Baptist Association. We do backyard Bible clubs and day camps 10 weeks in the summer. I am grasping for every source I can find, and it seemed as though when I opened On Mission it opened right to that resource. Its like opening your Bible, and the passage that you needed to read that day is there. Thats how I felt about this resource.
I liked the information you gave pertaining to college campuses, teens and children because I work with college students as summer missionaries and teens and children at the boys and girls club.
I am saying all of this to say "thank you" for such a great piece of insight into something so needful. On Mission is great. The November- December issue with the Grahams(page 18) was wonderful.
Nadeine Gold Resort Ministry Coordinator Branson, Missouri
Thanks for your letter. Youll find an article on neighborhood Bible clubs in this issue on page 43.
I especially enjoyed Sean Taylors story on VeggieTales. What a great article! It gave me some insightful outreach ideas. Furthermore, I can relate to the approach of mixing a lesson with tasteful humor (or tasty, in this case). It is increasingly difficult to compete with such influences as Pokmon, PlayStation and the Internet. I think the whole VeggieTales concept is a home run. Personally, I would like to see more churches and Bible study groups use this fun and informative approach to outreach. This way everyone wins.
Thanks for producing such a first-rate magazine. Keep up the good work.
James Jankowski Newnan, Georgia
Our church, Oman Evangelical Christian Congregation, has been a recipient of this encouraging magazine. Our members and other Christian friends enjoy reading the articles and are greatly motivated to reach the world. This has also been one of the sources for my sermon illustrations.
If only Christians knew of the tremendous Christian activities here, I believe kingdom people would be greatly motivated to share the good news with confidence and joy. Thank you for extending your missionary work by sending us the magazine.
Ferdie Umali Oman
Check out our website
I was pleased to discover your website. Your magazine is invaluable for our weekly mission study development. However, I wish that the current issues Vitals were available online. Many of these graphics and data would be valuable in Power Point presentations.
Phil Parker, Pastor Northgate Baptist, El Paso, Texas
Selected Vitals are now available in downloadable PowerPoint format
I really appreciate On Mission magazine. It is tops! But I misplaced my January-February issue. As I recall, it contained an article on affluenza ("Anti-Stuff: Rightsizing your life to battle affluenza," page 53). Is it possible for you to send me a copy of that article?
Alfred Duncan Lynchburg, Virginia
As youll see in the illustration (left) of our onmission.com website, stories from back issues appear there too.