Whose Plan Are You Following, part 3

Paul Fleming did not die from the poison of his anti-malarial medication! Instead, God brought together through him a cross section of ordinary Christians to help spread the gospel and to form New Tribes Mission (NTM).

Though Fleming was still very weak from malaria, he immediately began to show films of their work in British Malaya. Gradually he gathered around himself a group of men, many of whom had been led to the Lord through Paul Rader’s ministry. In 1942, NTM came into existence, and in the late autumn of that year, the first group of 10 adults and six children sailed for Bolivia. In 1943, the first issue of Brown Gold, NTM’s publication, was printed.

Paul Fleming once wrote: “Missionary work is often in the horse and buggy stage just because we do not use what is available in our day to hasten the advance of the gospel in the remote, untouched parts of the world.” Though they faced setbacks and even death, NTM became a pioneer in using aircraft for transporting their workers to remote tribes.

Today NTM is still moving to reach the last tribes with the gospel in Southeast Asia where Paul Fleming first had the vision and in many other parts of the world.-AL from, “The Story of New Tribes Mission” by Ken Johnston, 1985

Pray for the Holy Spirit to grant discernment to those whom He has called to extend His Kingdom to the remaining unreached tribes.

Whose Plans Are You Following, part 2

Part two of a short biography of missionary Paul Fleming who had too many things on his own agenda to listen to the Lord. This is from the Global Prayer Digest, from the US Center for World Missions. 

He married his fiance, Cherrill Harter, and they left for the mission field in 1937. They planned to go to Sumatra, Indonesia. But when they arrived in Singapore, Paul met Dr. Robert A. Jaffray, a missionary statesman with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, who said he could not rest until he had made every effort to go where the gospel had not been preached. Carrying this burden, Paul and Cherrill went instead to the unreached areas of British Malaysia.

Converts were won and a small Bible school started. It was reported that Paul Fleming must have won 3,000 to Christ in the three years he was in British Malaya. Illness, however, stopped their work. The Flemings returned to the U.S. and discovered that Paul had been poisoned by his malaria medication. The doctors expected him to die, and Paul was nearly crushed to think that his service for God was over and his hopes of seeing the “last tribe” reached were dashed.-AL

Pray that believers will understand that God has a purpose for their lives, and they need to heed His voice.

Whose Plans Are you Following?

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."

Today I begin a short biography of missionary Paul Fleming who had too many things on his own agenda to listen to the Lord. This is from the Global Prayer Digest, from the US Center for World Missions.  It’s very easy to allow our plans and ambitions to get in the way of what the Lord really wants for us. Do you have any “non-negotiables” that can get in the way of the Lord’s first choice?  Pray that we will allow the Lord to be Lord over all aspects of our lives, so that His purpose will prevail. 

Pray that Christ followers will obey the great Commission of Jesus and be available to go into all the world and preach the gospel to unreached people groups. Not our will, but His will be done!

Paul Fleming loved sports, especially track. But his mother, Erma, never seemed to be very excited when he brought home his ribbons and trophies. When Paul asked, “Mom, don’t you care?” she replied, “Paul, there’s only one race I want you to win and that is the race for Jesus Christ.”
Paul was born in 1910, and accepted the Lord as his Savior when he was 10 or 11 years old at the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles. Paul’s parents’ example guided his development before and after his conversion. His mom lived with a burning desire to see each of her four children living to reach a lost world. Mrs. Fleming often visited the neighbors, introducing them to the Lord. She could also be counted on in times of sickness and grief.
Through the evangelistic ministry of Paul Rader, a former football player and heavyweight prizefighter, Paul Fleming dedicated his life to the Lord. When Paul Rader suggested that he come to live and work with him in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Paul was thrilled. He wrote, “I was able to be with a man whom I became more and more convinced really loved the Lord and loved people.” He stayed in Rader’s home, helped raise chickens on the farm, and had charge of the boys’ work. After the thrill subsided, Fleming went back to California to work for Durkees Foods. But now, he was really miserable.

Pray that those people you know who are disobeying the Lord will be discontent until they change their ways.