A High And Noble Mission

They were turbulent years, the ones following America's Civil War. The emancipation of those held in slavery opened new ministry opportunities for Northern churches. Previously blocked from reaching any held as slaves, they now were free to preach the Good News to the poor, helping "bind up the nation's wounds." They did their best to follow the Lord's example--setting prisoners free, releasing the oppressed, and especially as Adventists, proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor. Individuals discovered within this new mission field, the Freedmen, willingly came to hear the Word of the Lord proclaimed. Among their many physical and spiritual needs, one request arose high above all others. The Freedmen wanted to read. That privilege had been vigorously denied in the past, but now, with freedom a reality--they wanted schools. Many had the noblest of reasons. Having heard preaching and teaching from the Bible all their lives, they now wanted to read those words on their own. Others wanted an education to help secure the new liberties coming their way. Northern churches sent more preachers than teachers, yet schools were established. While teaching the new converts to read the Bible, missionaries were pressed to go beyond that introductory level. However, churches on the home front seldom saw the need for expensive schools and only reluctantly supported anything beyond the preaching ministry. Meanwhile, the surrounding White community was strongly opposed to any schooling at all. Teachers were threatened, housing denied, and some schools burned to the ground. Missionaries stood in the middle, seeking to please both the sending churches and the Black Freedmen, while maintaining peace within an oftentimes hostile community. They were overworked, financially under-supported, and all suffered from "burnout"; a few even paid the ultimate sacrifice. Yet many individual lives were wondrously transformed as they participated in this most high and noble Christian mission. 96

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • It’s possible to find your God-given mission and create a bolder, brighter, more fulfilling life. “When you take this journey through these pages with Tim, one thing is clear: you’re going to discover purpose wherever you are and leave an impact wherever you go.”—Thomas Rhett Akins Tim Tebow believes that the secret to a truly meaningful life is not more comfort or ease, but recognizing the clear, unique mission that God has set before you. Having a focused sense of your personal, God-given significance will bring you a lasting sense of purpose. That’s why Mission Possible will help you: • Identify your priorities • Align your responsibilities • Elevate convictions over emotions • Make decisive, wise, and impactful choices • Fuel your drive and passion • Set your sights on eternity Let this book ignite a new spark in your life. Wherever you are, whatever your work, you can find God’s purpose for your life. Accomplish the mission that you have already been called to and equipped for. It’s never too early and it's never too late to start living a mission possible life. Find your mission, pursue your purpose, and go create a life that counts.

Behind the work of most global missionaries are local churches. Our faith communities, from giant urban churches to small rural parishes, are necessary to the task of spreading the name of Jesus and the good news about His Kingdom beyond our borders. High-impact churches consider the work of global missions as a primary part of their daily life of faith together. ]On Mission Together is a clear and concise guidebook for any church wanting to make global missions extend beyond an annual offering or a Minute for Missions. Richard Noble-pastor, educator, and missions mobilizer-offers a clear and practical pathway toward making missions part of the fundamental DNA of your worshiping community. Half of the author royalties from the sale of this book goes to support the work of global missions.

* How personal drama can lead to a radical approach on life and work* Management book with a philosophical basis* Powerful and easily applicable modelsOrganizations and companies remain successful if they are ecosystems in which people are motivated to improve. People are engaged when organizations have a purpose and attract like-minded men and women. The transformative power of noble purpose is what unites individual self-realization, organizational efficiency, and societal evolution. This book, inspired by the life story of the author, promotes a society where environment, humanism and economy go hand in hand to create a sustainable future.

They were turbulent years, the ones following America's Civil War. The emancipation of those held in slavery opened new ministry opportunities for Northern churches. Previously blocked from reaching any held as slaves, they now were free to preach the Good News to the poor, helping "bind up the nation's wounds." They did their best to follow the Lord's example--setting prisoners free, releasing the oppressed, and especially as Adventists, proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor. Individuals discovered within this new mission field, the Freedmen, willingly came to hear the Word of the Lord proclaimed. Among their many physical and spiritual needs, one request arose high above all others. The Freedmen wanted to read. That privilege had been vigorously denied in the past, but now, with freedom a reality--they wanted schools. Many had the noblest of reasons. Having heard preaching and teaching from the Bible all their lives, they now wanted to read those words on their own. Others wanted an education to help secure the new liberties coming their way. Northern churches sent more preachers than teachers, yet schools were established. While teaching the new converts to read the Bible, missionaries were pressed to go beyond that introductory level. However, churches on the home front seldom saw the need for expensive schools and only reluctantly supported anything beyond the preaching ministry. Meanwhile, the surrounding White community was strongly opposed to any schooling at all. Teachers were threatened, housing denied, and some schools burned to the ground. Missionaries stood in the middle, seeking to please both the sending churches and the Black Freedmen, while maintaining peace within an oftentimes hostile community. They were overworked, financially under-supported, and all suffered from "burnout"; a few even paid the ultimate sacrifice. Yet many individual lives were wondrously transformed as they participated in this most high and noble Christian mission.

The Jedi think the dreaded Nihil marauders have been all but defeated. The Nihil's leader is on the run, and their numbers have dwindled. Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh hopes this means she will finally have time to really train her Padawan, Imri Cantaros--but reports of a Nihil attack on Port Haileap soon dash those hopes. Not only have the Nihil attacked the peaceful outpost, but they have abducted Avon Starros, Vernestra and Imri's friend. The two Jedi set off for Port Haileap, determined to figure out where the Nihil have taken her. Meanwhile, Avon's smarts and skills will be put to the ultimate test as she fights for survival among the Nihil--and uncovers a sinister plan. Can Vernestra and Imri find their friend before disaster strikes?

In December 1838 Colonel Charles Stoddart arrived in Bukhara (present-day Uzbekistan), where he had been sent on a mission by the British East India Company to try to arrange an alliance with the khanate against the Russian Empire, whose expansion into Central Asia was of concern to the British. The ruler of Bukhara, Nasrullah Khan (reigned 1827-60), had Stoddart imprisoned in a vermin-infested dungeon under the Ark Fortress for failing to bow before him, bring gifts, and to show signs of respect that the emir regarded as his due. In November 1841, Captain Arthur Conolly, a fellow officer who is best remembered as the coiner of the phrase "the Great Game" (the competition between Great Britain and Russia for influence in Central Asia) arrived in Bukhara to try to secure Stoddart's release. He was also imprisoned by the emir and on June 17, 1842, both men were executed. Word of the executions did not reach Britain, and in 1843 Dr. Joseph Wolff (1795-1862) undertook a mission to Bukhara to try to ascertain the fates of the two men. Wolff, who had extensive experience in the Middle East and Central Asia, volunteered his services to a committee that had been formed in London to try to help the captives. Wolff was brilliant, courageous, and eccentric. He was born in Germany into the family of a rabbi but had converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism at a young age. He studied theology and Near Eastern languages in Austria and Germany and then went to Rome intending to become a missionary. After falling out with the church over theological issues, he became an Anglican. In 1821 he began his career as a missionary to the Jews of the Middle East and Central Asia, and in that capacity spent many years working in the region as far east as Afghanistan. Wolff was himself nearly executed in Bukhara, but he managed with the help of the Persian government to return to England and to bring word of the fate of Stoddart and Conolly. Narrative of a Mission to Bokhara is Wolff's account of his mission. It contains much information about the countries through which he traveled (present-day Turkey, Iran, and Uzbekistan), particularly concerning the religious beliefs and practices of the Muslims, Jews, and Christians he encountered. Wolff denounces Nasrullah Khan as a "cruel miscreant" guilty of the "foul atrocity" of the officers' murder. The book, which ran to seven editions in its first seven years after publication, contains line drawings of notable and common people.