Intimate Involvement

I, Joel Bradsher, received Biblical teaching from my parents both at home and in church throughout my childhood. While I have not always faithfully followed Jesus, knowing of Him and being taught to follow Him was characteristic of my Christian culture. In my mid 20’s I fully embraced a lifestyle of obediently following Jesus which eventually led me to academic studies resulting in a Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. However, with all the Christian background and training I soon discovered that I lacked being intimately involved in reaching the nations with the gospel. Sure, Kimberly and I gave sacrificially to Missional endeavors through the local church. We attended short term mission trips and ministered in our local church. We participated in the missional endeavors of the local assembly; however, we lacked intimate involvement in Missions. In my last days of formal study in SEBTS and serving as a co-pastor, Kimberly and I were deeply convicted that reaching the nations with the gospel involved our being intimately involved in God’s global plan of redemption. Couple this inner working of the Spirit with some young adults who desired to travel abroad on a mission trip while my building a friendship with Moncy Mammen (of NE India) and we had a ripe opportunity to become intimately involved in Global Missions. Moncy is the son of Mammen Joseph who is the founder of the PGT (Peniel Gospel Team) which is a church planting ministry in NE India. In short the PGT has planted some 400+ churches over a 40 yr. period. Upon my discovery of such I was intrigued to state it lightly. As a result of our friendship, Nigussie (a brother from Ethiopia) and myself traveled to India for a Vision trip. Following this Vision trip I led a team of 8 to serve alongside the PGT for 2 weeks. Though I thought this my be a “one and done,” the Lord had other plans leading to a now 6 yr. partnership with the PGT in planting churches, training pastors, etc. on 5 trips to NE India. My point, I have learned that being fruitful in God’s missional plan takes intimate involvement. Yes, I know that everyone cannot travel abroad; however, everyone of us can commit to a people group, a nation, a foreign church planter, etc. in order to see fruit from our labor. I am continually learning that the more intimately involved I become the deeper my passion to see every people group (in my case & in AIMS aim the people groups of NE India). I challenge you to seek God’s wisdom in becoming intimately involved in global missions (as well as your own community). If He leads, partner with AIM and the PGT to reach the unreached of NE India. We would be honored for you to join us in our endeavor to glorify God in NE India through church planting. Intimate involvement in God’s global plan will result in being a part of our King’s endeavor to assemble every tongue, tribe, nation, and language around the throne of God to worship Him forever.