Great new work! Doulos International

[zoonance]

This was started by an elder of the Hillsboro church of Christ

Sounds like a great work and I plan on getting involved.  I would encourage you all to consider this ministry as well.

http://doulosinternational.org/index.html

[zoonance]

Curious.  Any opinions? Sounds like a great work to me.

[larry2]

Dear zoonance - I did go through their advertising and found nothing I would be drawn to, though it sounds okay if it is not akin to many other ripoffs nowadays. There is certainly a need in the world, but I do believe I would stick to a well know organization if I truly felt I needed to participate in a ministry of that sort.

I guess my reservations of an organization like that is their real lack of a stance in doctrine. The Catholic Church has many wonderful outreaches, but I do not support them. Mormons help each other, but I do not aid them.

I believe if God wanted me to help them, I would be so drawn to that work I couldn't have peace without it. Many people put themselves into missionary work without God sending them.

I presently have been given a mission and that is to study to show myself approved unto God, to grow in grace and knowledge of my Lord, and then as Mary did while Martha was busy serving the Lord, Mary just loved Jesus, sat at His feet and listened to His words.  Jesus commended who? Martha, you are worried about many things, but Mary has chosen the best part.

Thanks and God bless in Jesus' name - larry2

[MegaJedi]

Dear Zooance,

While the idea is great.  I am studing to be  a missionary through the Church of the Brethren. 

[zoonance]

I understand.  We (and that is me too) all are more comfortable giving 'unity' efforts more lip service than reality allows us.  We are most comfortable with ... clones.  (meant to be in a good sense)  It may be impossible to set some things aside and work together.   I guess I will have to choose which group represents Him and His expectations for the church.  Faith in action can not happen outside defined boundaries I suppose.

[MegaJedi]

Let the preacher know I will pray for this service though.

[zoonance]

I will.  In fact, they will visit with any serious mission group so if any of you have a good work in progress or planned, give them a call.  Perhaps working together, more salt and light can enter the bland darkness.

[larry2]

Quoting Zoonance - I understand.  We (and that is me too) all are more comfortable giving 'unity' efforts more lip service than reality allows us.  We are most comfortable with ... clones.  (meant to be in a good sense)  It may be impossible to set some things aside and work together.   I guess I will have to choose which group represents Him and His expectations for the church.  Faith in action can not happen outside defined boundaries I suppose

Response - I reckon I also believe that if it is God that gives us a ministry, He will supply the needed money to operate it. I know that many see a situation they want to correct, but they want our help to get the job done. Maybe I'm wrong, but I have so many I personally know that need help right around me, and I suspect that there will always be the poor and needy among us.

In Jesus' name - larry2

[zoonance]

I am impressed both with Jesus's words stating just that (the poor will always be with you) but also just how much of God's own words deal with the poor (and injustice etc).    What is a correct christian response to loving God and loving our neighbors?  Who is our neighbor? *That question sure sounds familiar! Is saying "be thou fed" without feeding of any good?  Is feeding the body without the soul of eternal consequence?  There is a ministry for everyone.  Not every need will be met by Lone Rangerism.  Collective efforts (local and distant) are certainly just as biblical as individual responsibility to meeting the needs of others.  No single specific ministry will find its way into everyone's lap!

[zoonance]

By the way, even if this particular Ministry effort is not appealing to a particular individual, their website does have some good links that may lead to another way of being equipped for ministry.  I appreciate the feedback so far!  Thanks guys!

[Tantor]

World Servants already does this quite well.. this seems to just be another division of work.

[zoonance]

World Servants already does this quite well.. this seems to just be another division of work.

I am not familiar with them but that is great.  Division of work is exactly what we were called to do.  Unless two people can be at the same exact spot at the same exact time doing the exact same thing... it is division of work!!!

[zoonance]

I can't help but wonder if reading the posts between professed believers on the Forum lately will lead to more salt and light for our unbelieving world or less?

[zoonance]

http://www.cvmusa.org/Page.aspx?&pid=183

Here is another great ministry which is very active and presents a program at most of our major veterinary conferences every year.  If you are a veterinarian or know one who might be interested in this ministry, please let them know.  I suspect they already are familiar with this one.

[marc]

This was started by an elder of the Hillsboro church of Christ

Sounds like a great work and I plan on getting involved.  I would encourage you all to consider this ministry as well.

http://doulosinternational.org/index.html

I've heard of this before, and am happy to see such ministries multiplying.  This is the type of thing Christians should be known for.

[Bon Voyage]

This was started by an elder of the Hillsboro church of Christ

Sounds like a great work and I plan on getting involved.  I would encourage you all to consider this ministry as well.

http://doulosinternational.org/index.html

I've heard of this before, and am happy to see such ministries multiplying.  This is the type of thing Christians should be known for.

Wasn't there some controversy in the past in the CofC world over missionary organizations?

I have had or have relatives involved in The Navigators, South American Mission, among others, and know folks from church in New Tribes, The Evangelical Alliance Mission, etc.

[marc]

This was started by an elder of the Hillsboro church of Christ

Sounds like a great work and I plan on getting involved.  I would encourage you all to consider this ministry as well.

http://doulosinternational.org/index.html

I've heard of this before, and am happy to see such ministries multiplying.  This is the type of thing Christians should be known for.

Wasn't there some controversy in the past in the CofC world over missionary organizations?

Historically, yes.  The bigger controversy in recent years has been the philosophy that in order to be "faithful" we have to go it alone--not in the sense of not cooperating with other SOFCOCs, but in the sense of not cooperating with "the denominations".  This site addressed that problem, I noticed.

[Bon Voyage]

This was started by an elder of the Hillsboro church of Christ

Sounds like a great work and I plan on getting involved.  I would encourage you all to consider this ministry as well.

http://doulosinternational.org/index.html

I've heard of this before, and am happy to see such ministries multiplying.  This is the type of thing Christians should be known for.

Wasn't there some controversy in the past in the CofC world over missionary organizations?

Historically, yes.  The bigger controversy in recent years has been the philosophy that in order to be "faithful" we have to go it alone--not in the sense of not cooperating with other SOFCOCs, but in the sense of not cooperating with "the denominations".  This site addressed that problem, I noticed.

Addressed yes, but most likely not to the satisfaction of the hardliners.

[marc]

If we keep trying to satisfy the hardliners, we may as well nail our doors shut or turn our buildings into Lions Clubs.

[Jimbob]

This was started by an elder of the Hillsboro church of Christ

Sounds like a great work and I plan on getting involved.  I would encourage you all to consider this ministry as well.

http://doulosinternational.org/index.html

I've heard of this before, and am happy to see such ministries multiplying.  This is the type of thing Christians should be known for.

[Jimbob]

Most people in CofC don't even know what "missionary alliance" means, but if you said let's get a bunch of christians and churches together to work for a common cause, most are for it.  I think most of the angst only resides these days certain SOPs, preachers' offices, and the NI wing.  Cases in point would be ministries like Disaster Relief Int'l., Kairos Church Planting, Continent of Great Cities, etc. all of which pretty much fit the old pattern of a "missionary alliance" without being seen as such.

Years ago when we were raising support to go to eastern Europe an elder at one church said to the congregation, "Why do we make our missionaries go through such loops?  Why were we against missionary alliances?"  Everyone just looked at him and .

[zoonance]

Dear zoonance - I did go through their advertising and found nothing I would be drawn to, though it sounds okay if it is not akin to many other ripoffs nowadays. There is certainly a need in the world, but I do believe I would stick to a well know organization if I truly felt I needed to participate in a ministry of that sort.

I guess my reservations of an organization like that is their real lack of a stance in doctrine. The Catholic Church has many wonderful outreaches, but I do not support them. Mormons help each other, but I do not aid them.

I believe if God wanted me to help them, I would be so drawn to that work I couldn't have peace without it. Many people put themselves into missionary work without God sending them.

I presently have been given a mission and that is to study to show myself approved unto God, to grow in grace and knowledge of my Lord, and then as Mary did while Martha was busy serving the Lord, Mary just loved Jesus, sat at His feet and listened to His words.  Jesus commended who? Martha, you are worried about many things, but Mary has chosen the best part.

Thanks and God bless in Jesus' name - larry2

I suppose the lesson/point He was making  could be that he wants all his disciples to just sit back and listen to Him.  Course, we can't agree on what He was saying.