Fall 2007

In the early sixties or even late fifties, Homer Duncan wrote the booklet entitled God and Man. This later became The Living God booklet, which is now the Missionary Crusader’s primary evangelistic book. In round figure’s 5,000,000 copies have been printed in 50 different languages. This includes the illustrated Living God, which was first proposed by and Operation Mobilization worker who drew the pictures for the first edition that was published in Hindi in April 1979. The pictorial or illustrated format was well accepted and the about figures include more than 1,000,000 copies of the pictorial format in more than 15 languages. Therefore, it seems only fitting that an edition of The Living God booklet be chosen as a memorial to Homer Duncan. Thus, it is planned to print 200,000 copies of The Living God booklet in the Burmese language of Myanmar (formerly Burma). This is being done in co-operation with Rev. L. Sawi Thanga in Myanmar.

The Missionary Crusader has worked with Bro. Thanga for a number of years. In fact the first printing of The Living God booklet in Burmese was done back in November of 1962. The memorial project will cost $5,000.00. We are grateful that the Missionary Crusader is able to work with Bro. Thanga to produce this booklet in memory of Homer Duncan. I know that Dad would be honored, that this project is being undertaken with someone who has been a close friend over so many decades.

The production of two books in Portuguese have been completed, the printing of Secular Humanism and Commandos for Christ were done in co-operation with Brother Fernando Resina de Almeida and Nucleo Centro de Publicacoes Cristas. Bro. Almeida is another long time friend.

A limited edition of Andrew Murry’s 31 Day Plan to Enrich Your Prayer Life, has been produced. Also, a limited run of Ten Church of Christ Doctrines Compared With the Holy Scriptures has been completed.

by Homer Duncan

We are not saved by our good works, but we are saved "unto" good works. (Eph. 2:8-10). The New Testament puts a great emphasis on Christian service.

We can either serve in the energy of the flesh or in the power of the Holy Spirit. Fleshly service will be destroyed by fire at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:15). Spirit-directed service will stand the test of fire. Many Christians and ministers of the Gospel are racing

about in self-directed activity. They are doing more harm than good. They hinder the cause of Christ. We are to be busy in the service of our King, but since Christ is the Lord of our lives, He is to direct our activities. We are to go where He sends us. We are to do what He commands us. We are to speak what He tells us. He is the Head of the body, the Church (Col. 1:18). All of the members of our physical body are controlled and directed by our head. When our head ceases to control the members of our body, we are sick. The body of Christ is in a sickly condition today because the members are not subject to the Head.

I do not expect my arms to be waving all of the time. Nor do I expect my feet to be jumping all of the time. If they did, I would soon be utterly exhausted. I expect my hand to obey the instructions from my head when I command it to do something. I command my hand to write a letter, or to put food in my mouth. It obeys me. I can walk because my feet obey the instructions from my head. I have a strong vigorous body when all of my members are controlled and directed by my head.

In the same way, as members of the body of Christ, we are to be directed by Christ, who is our Head. What a joy it is to serve Him when He is working through us. The Apostle Paul could say, "Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which works in me mightily" (Col. 1:29).

Some Spheres of Christian Service

Every Christian should openly confess Christ. We should confess Him not only at the time of our conversion; we should continually confess Him by our lives and by word of testimony. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32).

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, "That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. 10:9,10).

Every Christian should be a witness for Christ. A witness is a person who tells what he knows. We do not have to be ordained ministers, nor do we have to be graduates of a Bible school in order to be a witness for Christ. If Christ has saved us, if we know that our sins are forgiven, if our hearts are filled with peace and joy in believing, we will want to tell others what Christ has done for us. We will want to tell them how He saved us. Through our testimony, others will be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. Jesus' last words on the earth were, "But you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

God gives different gifts to each of His children. He places each of us in the body as it pleases Him (1 Cor. 12:18). We are very foolish when we try to do what we want to do rather than letting Him lead and direct us.

We are to teach others. This can be done in various ways. Some may have the privilege of teaching large Bible classes. Others need to be content in teaching one individual. As we are faithful in the small things, God will lead us on to greater things.

Jesus came into the world that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He died on the cross to reconcile man to God (2Cor. 5:19). He died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). He was buried and was raised again on the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-3). He is now the Lord of life. He imparts His resurrected life to all who will believe on Him.

When we receive Christ we begin to live (John 1:12, 13). We experience the life of Christ. He lives in us. We find peace in the midst of a troubled world. We find joy in the midst of sorrow. God’s love is shed abroad in our hearts for a world that is filled with hatred (Rom. 5:5). The fruit of the Holy Sprit is borne in our lives (Gal. 5: 22,23). We become channels through which others are brought to Christ.

Jesus has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, and yet more than half of the people in the world have never heard the Gospel of Christ. Every Christian should find God's place for him in world evangelism. All of us should pray (Matt. 9: 37,38). God is looking for intercessors (Isa. 59:16; Ezek. 22:30). Most of us can give something. Some of us shall have the high privilege of going as missionaries.

God has a work for each of us to do. He is glorified in our service for Him. It is not what we do for Him, but what He does through us that matters. As we learn these secrets and apply them in our daily life, peace and joy will flood our soul. We cease from our own restless striving and begin to labor according to His own mighty working. We enter into the rest that God has provided for His Children (Heb. 4:9).

Having received Jesus Christ as your Savior, will you now crown Him as Lord of your life? In view of all that God has done for you in the giving of His Son, will you now present your body to Him as a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1,2)? Will you let Christ be your very life every moment of every day?

God is the Master Workman. He can take the life that has been ruined and marred by sin and make it anew (Jer. 18:1-6). He is the Master Musician. He can take the life that is filled with discord and strife, and bring forth heaven's harmony. He is the Master Weaver. He can take the tangled threads of our lives and weave them into a beautiful tapestry. He is the Master Painter. In spite of our blotches and smears, He knows how to blend the colors to produce a masterpiece. Jesus is the Great Physician. He heals the broken-hearten.

Yield yourself completely to Him, as you do you shall have the joy of discovering that the "path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more unto a perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).

We continue to struggle with finances. The need for literature continues to expand and our income seems to shrink. This is due to the fact that we have not found a good way to replace many of our older donors. I guess it is to be expected that over a period of 65 years donors will be lost.

We have had to replace a roof on one of our buildings and make repairs on the roof of our main office building. Other needs are also on the horizon. Please note from the accompanying photos that our equipment requirements have also changed over the decades. Diane Robbins computer needs to be replaced. Fortunately, computer equipment is much more reasonable than when we computerized almost 25 years ago. However, it is still a major expenditure when on a limited budget. It is amazing how much we now depend upon computers.

However, the Lord has been faithful to meet our needs over the past 64 years. The Missionary Crusader just began its 65th year. Over 75% of the current mission organizations have been started after the founding of the Missionary Crusader by Homer Duncan in September of 1943.

Please join with us in praying for the needs of the Missionary Crusader, and in giving thanks for God’s faithfulness over the years. Of course there are financial needs and needs for wisdom as we seek the best way to carry on this ministry. I am going to make a concerted effort to better communicate you. We praise the Lord for each one the Lord has raised up to so faithfully stand with us in this work. Many of you that have been with us for a number of years will recall that one of Homer’s sayings was that a bird flies with two wings - Praise and Petition. Thank you for continuing to "fly" with us.

You are invited to join us in the literature ministry of the Missionary Crusader with both your prayers and gifts. Many of you reading this are faithful, regular donors and for this we praise God. Others have supported this work in the past but have not given in several years, and some have never contributed financially. We ask that before the Lord you seek what He would have you to do. Every born again believer should have an active and direct part in reaching the world with the gospel. Literature has proven to be one of the most effective ways of doing this. Supporting the Missionary Crusader is not the only way you can be involved in missions. However, you are invited to stand with us in sending out the message of life to a lost and dying world. If the Lord so leads, your support will be welcomed and help to meet real needs. All gifts are Tax Deductible.

Home