I have been hearing complaints on both sides of the isle in the last several years. I thought I would air out some thoughts I had from a missionary’s point of view. I would sincerely hope that you would read this with carefulness, and take it with the spirit in which it is intended! I implore you to email me any suggestions for this list. Thanks for your thoughtfulness in advance. Continue reading
In late September, of 2006, myself and two other men were holding a tent revival in Williston, North Dakota. During the meeting, I brought up the fact that Watertown, South Dakota needed a solid Independent Baptist Church. We began to pray and make plans to hold a series of meetings later on the next year. Lamar Whittemore’s name was brought up in the conversation as I recall. (I still am uncovering the details of how God has put this together, but God does work in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?) The meeting was held as scheduled. Lamar preached in the meeting and later was able to move up to Watertown! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!Brother Lamar, and his wife Chastity are a tremendous blessing to be around. Lamar is the pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Watertown, SD. They are sent from Eastside Baptist Church of Greeneville, TN and are serving with Anchor Baptist Missions International.
“My name is Lamar Whittemore, and my wife is Chastity. I was reared under some of the greatest and godliest parents anyone could ever have. The Lord saved me at the age of six, and answered the call to preach at the age of fourteen. My wife was reared by a godly Mom, and sat under some great preaching as a member of Roanoke Baptist Church in Liberty, South Carolina. She was saved at the age of fourteen. God brought us together, and we were married in July of 1995. I was privileged to work on the mission field between high school and college. I attended college at Tabernacle Baptist College in Greenville, South Carolina; and graduated from there in 1996. After college I was the youth director at Tabernacle and worked on the radio.
The Lord opened the door for me to pastor United Baptist Church in Greeneville, TN in December of 1999. While pastoring, I was greatly blessed to continue my education, and graduate from Crown College in Powell, TN in 2006. We resigned the pastorate in September of 2006. In a way that only God could, He miraculously had someone mention South Dakota to me the very night I resigned United Baptist Church. I honestly had no intentions to pray about the need in South Dakota. But, the Holy Spirit would wake me up in the middle of the night praying for Watertown, South Dakota. After receiving advice to take a survey trip, we realized Watertown was where God wanted us. We did deputation for a year and a half, and moved to Watertown in May of 2008. We began having church in a couple’s home the weekend we came to town. After seven months in their home, we started meeting at the Watertown Event Center on January 4th, 2009. Throughout these two years God has shown Himself mighty and true! It’s hard to believe that we will be starting to have services in a church building January 2nd, 2011. To God Be The Glory!!!
God is definitely working here in Watertown. We are running between thirty-five and fourty in church. We also have a children’s ministry on Thursday nights. Our high number has been forty-three children. We are praying God continues to work miracles, touch hearts, save souls, put homes back together, and bring glory to Himself. With our moving into a building, there are many needs. We need more songbooks, a church sign, tables and chairs to put in Sunday School Classrooms, sound system, etc. But, more than anything, we need laborers for the field. Please pray God will help us reach Watertown, the Great Plains States, and the World for His glory! I honestly believe God can reach the world from Watertown!!!”
Contact Information:
Email Address: [email protected]
Lamar’s Cell Phone: 605-868-2214
Church Phone: 605-753-9609.
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| Harvest Baptist Church of Watertown, SD |
Sending Church Website: www.eastsidebaptist.info
Mission Board: www.anchorbaptist.org
Conclusion:
I fully endorse Lamar and Chastity Whittemore. He has been a good friend and I know that he loves the Lord! Pastors, I ask two things from you regarding Brother Whittemore. First, please give him a call or email him to let him know that you read this post about him. Encourage this brother… pray with Him! Secondly, ask the Lord to provide him with more monetary support for his endeavors! I am sure he would be grateful for any prayers and financial support that YOUcould offer him.
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The John Phillips New Testament Commentary, 19 Volumes |
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 Image by National Galleries of Scotland Commons via Flickr |
| Missionary David Livingstone |
You would be surprised how poorly God’s men work together sometimes. For the most part, I think it is lack of understanding. If a pastor has never experienced the ministry of deputation, then he is oblivious to what it is like. Likewise, if a missionary has never been the pastor of a congregation, then he is severely limited as to how most men would operate in that capacity. Regardless of circumstance, pastors and missionaries have to work together. This post will address how a pastor can better help a missionary as they seek to work together.
5 Ways Pastors Can Help Missionaries
#1 – Pray Specifically For The Missionary’s Needs
The missionary’s needs can be surmised by the prayer letter that is usually sent out, at least, once in a quarter. Missionaries can spend hours prayerfully compacting information to send back to their supporters. Often, this precious document is just posted on a bulletin board and never really digested! This should never be the case for a pastor. He should thoroughly be abreast of each of his missionaries’ situations just as if it were a ministry locally.
#2 – Communicate With The Missionary
If it is possible, a pastor should try and phone his missionaries from time to time. Just hearing the voice on the other end can mean everything that day. Emails are a great way to communicate, but make them meaningful for they sometimes have to pay a little for each email. Sending a package can be very helpful too. One word of caution though… be sure that what you send is worth something. Due to duties, and various tariffs, missionaries can spend quite a bit of money just to get $5.00 worth of stuff. Search out ahead of time.
#3 – Pastors Can Send A Prayer Letter To The Missionary
Every supporting church requires the missionary to send a letter to report back what is taking place on the field. This is done for many reasons. One of which is for accountability purposes. How about the pastor reporting to the missionary about what is going on in the supporting church? It helps to solidify the pastor/missionary relationship. After all, they are co-laboring in God’s harvest field!
#4 – Pastors Should Let Missionaries Preach!
Some pastors think missionaries cannot preach. I have heard this more times than I care to remember. What they are really saying is that they do not have the same style. Ascertaining whether or not someone can preach has nothing to do with style. In fact, pastors would be surprised how God uses missionaries “who cannot preach” on their respective fields of labor. Pastors can really help the missionary by letting him preach!
#5 – Pastors Can Be Pro-Active And Seek Out Missionaries!
Missionaries labor trying to book meetings in search of support. Every now and then a pastor will call a missionary wanting them to present their work! This is like giving someone a Christmas gift. It sure encourages the missionary when this takes place. It shows the pastor truly cares!
Bottom Line…
There are many ways pastors can help missionaries. These are just five. Maybe you can suggest more in the comment section below. You never know how your thought expressed here could help someone whom you will never see here on earth!
