World Missions Advance

"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:1–4)

This passage in 1 Corinthians 15 is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. This is the gospel. We never graduate from the gospel. Paul goes on to talk about all of the people the resurrected Christ appeared to. I especially love this bit when he says, “He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now.” I love that, “most of whom remain until now.” It’s like Paul is saying, “listen, Jesus really rose from the dead, but just in case you don’t believe me, go ask these other people who are still alive...they saw Him too!”

When I have the opportunity, I like to ask atheists what proof of the resurrection would they accept? So many people like to try to justify their own unbelief by appealing to the lack of proof, but the truth is there is a lot of proof for the resurrection of Christ. Paul even says “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain” (1 Co 15:14). Everything hinges on the Resurrection. If it happened, it is of ultimate importance. If it didn’t happen, then even Paul says that our faith is in vain. This is our hope as believers. Christ is “the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Co 15:20). The penalty for sin, going way back all the way to Genesis is death, but praise God, for His free gift of eternal life to all who believe (Romans 3:23). As Christians, we don’t believe in some ethereal, ghostly, afterlife. No! We believe that one day, the dead in Christ will rise and live forever with Jesus as He reigns upon the throne of David forever and ever (See 2 Samuel 7).

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:3-5a).

Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Chad

Check out this interview with Adam Bostic, Missions Manager at Christ For The Nations Institute. Some of our WMA Associate Missionaries are graduates of CFNI. We are so grateful for our friendship with that wonderful training center whose students continue to impact the world for the Glory of God!

In this episode, I talk to Adam Bostic. Listen as he shares his journey from responding to God's call at age 13, serving as a youth pastor, training at Christ For The Nations Institute, and stepping into full-time missions in the Amazon jungle of Peru. He now oversees short-term outreaches and global missions training back at CFNI in Dallas.

We explore his dramatic calling when God's presence fell like a ton of bricks upon landing in the jungle, scouting trips that broke his wife's heart in the slums of Belén (Bethlehem), buying one-way tickets with no guaranteed housing, living in the back of a barn with a tree growing through the floor, tarantulas, snakes, rats, and a rain poncho as sheets, while raising their young son in a hammock for protection.

Adam opens up about the high missionary failure rate (50-80% worldwide and in his area), the grace God provides for extreme conditions, why proper training and expectations prevent burnout, prioritizing family day (Fridays off for pool time and games), envelope budgeting to protect kids from sacrificial over-giving, embracing separation from extended family traditions, staying focused on a clear vision list (Bible school, children's ministry, church planting, hosting teams), measuring real impact (launching 100+ pastors and missionaries), and the life-changing power of short-term missions trips (boosting long-term response from 2% to 25%).

He describes his current role at Christ for the Nations—leading short-term outreaches (including family teams to Peru in July), teaching in the Global Missions Major, and preparing students called to the nations—while still supporting ongoing work in the Amazon jungle.

A must-listen for missionary testimonies, jungle life realities, overcoming hardship with God's grace, family-first ministry in hard places, the value of short-term trips, and encouragement for anyone (young or retired) feeling called to missions—start by joining a solid sending organization!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiders-snakes-rats-missions-in-the-amazon-chad/id1814853643?i=1000751001532

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Lo1B2Hj5ZNJwsLWIJec0L?si=c8109ab2e8024903

YouTube: https://youtu.be/RSFLnCH_faI?si=8V7UPKNnByfKceEQ

Spiders, Snakes & Rats: Missions in the Amazon | Chad Bozarth Show #040 w/Adam Bostic In this episode, I talk to Adam Bostic. Listen as he shares his journey from responding to God's call at age 13, serving as a youth pastor, training at Chris...