Institute for Global Opportunities

It was an amazing command. It was a command from the king. A command to “Go and Build”.

Cyrus had just begun to reign, when he gave the command to the people of God to “go up…and build.”(Ezra1:3) And whoever didn’t go was commanded to support those who went with silver, gold, goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill offering! (:4) Relax, this isn’t an article asking for support …. I just thought that part was worth mentioning. Let’s move on, shall we?

Asia is reeling after two shattering disasters have hit our neighboring countries! The physical needs that were great before are magnified in the aftermath of the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in Sichuan, China. God is allowing these events for the purpose of inviting Asians to seek Him as Lord. This is God’s call for action! How can we mobilize to share the love of God to these devastated regions?

Not so long ago I found myself in Minnesota, enjoying the blessing of being with family and friends for a short time. We were given a vehicle to use since we didn’t have our own. While driving, I often thought about the time that would come when I would need to return the vehicle to its owner. I knew that I wanted to be very careful when driving, especially with the snowy and icy roads, so that I could return the van in the same good condition that I received it.

Over the years of working with young people, occasionally someone will condescendingly refer to the “Mennonite thing.” I find that to be a curious expression! What is the “Mennonite thing”? How does that differ from the “Baptist thing”, the “Pentecostal thing” or the “Lutheran thing”? What is it about the “Mennonite thing” that distinguishes it from any other “thing”?

The title is taken from 1 Kings 19:9 and again in verse 13. The setting is Elijah, having what he thought were very good reasons, decided to get away, and live in a cave. But Elijah was not where God wanted him. God pursued Elijah, and asked him twice, “What are you doing here?” God had other work for him. Retiring in a cave was not God’s place for Elijah.

As I sat in my office at IGo grading papers, I found myself reading the same thoughts over and over from different students.

One student shared, “God showed me that I have not given up my rights and I’m still trying to tell God what to do in my life and when.”

Another student wrote the following, “I have to give back to God the rights that I was holding onto, the dreams and plans I have for my life, and the pride that makes me think that I know better than God!”

His name was Nimrod. You’ve heard of him. Great grandson of Noah. Sat on Grandpa Ham’s lap and listened over and over about the great flood, and how almighty God saved his great grandpa’s family. Nimrod became great in his day. So great he became a king. King Nimrod’s kingdom began with Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Give of Your Best to the Master

Howard Grose penned the words of this dynamic poem:
an articulate, convicting call upon the church to give of its best.

In this article I’d like to consider two sets of questions and their answers regarding the foundational motive for IGo’s existence.

1. Is the Institute for Global Opportunities attempting to start a new denomination in Asia? Are we envisioning a Mennonite conference developing as the result of IGo’s presence there? Will the teaching and ministry of IGo drive wedges or build bridges between the evangelical groups that are currently in Asia?

The earth-shattering commitment of the early believers was to follow Christ recklessly! Their abandonment to Christ is what made them uncontrollable in the eyes of most civil leaders! While God’s moral law was held in high esteem by these spiritual “renegades,” they had little respect for rules and theologies that took the individual’s focus off the Lord Jesus Christ. If principles and practices in any way obscured Him, they were seen as not only unnecessary, but downright dangerous; heretical!