Gratia et Veritas » To Every Tribe

Privilege of Suffering Conference Audio

AJ — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:52:58 +0000

To Every Tribe’s annual mission conference, The Privilege of Suffering, began on Thursday and finished up today with messages by Drs. Al Mohler and Erwin Lutzer. All conference messages are now available for download on To Every Tribe’s website here. The conference was excellent! Sola Deo Gloria!

Dr. Al Mohler to Speak at To Every Tribe’s Mission Conference

AJ — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:02:12 +0000

It’s not too late to sign up for To Every Tribe’s Mission Conference to be held next week in Dalton, GA. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Al Mohler will now be speaking at the conference. Conference registration is FREE! You can register here.

The theme of this year’s conference is “The Privilege of Suffering.” Other conference speakers include David Sitton (To Every Tribe), Dr. Erwin Lutzer (Moody Church), Dr. Hershael York (SBTS), Dr. David Sills (SBTS), and Mr. Fred Zaspel.

God Fed the Sparrows and Sent a Missionary on His Way

AJ — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:27:37 +0000

October 3 marked the 32nd anniversary of David Sitton’s (president and founder of To Every Tribe) first departure. He was, as he admits, very green and very rough around the edges. He had only recently been converted from a life of drugs and sin. But God’s grace had marvelously transformed him and impassioned him to take the gospel to people who had not heard the message of Christ. The following is David’s recent reflections on that event.

Thirty-two years ago this month (October 3, 1977) I left for the first time as a missionary to Papua New Guinea.

20 years old: lean and green and ready to tackle the world for Christ. I boarded an airplane (by myself) in Corpus Christi, TX around 11:00 AM headed for New Guinea via Honolulu, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

David Sitton on Oct 3, 1977 before leaving for PNG

I was inexperienced, under-trained, under-financed and totally determined; a dangerous combination. But I did have a Bible and a surfboard–and not a worry in the world. The Lord must have chuckled at my reckless audacity. I think he liked it, though.

Family and friends gathered at the airport terminal. There was much hugging and weeping as they figured I would be eaten by cannibals before my first two year mission was completed (and it nearly happened)!

Several elders from my sending church huddled together whispering among themselves about how they didn’t think that young kid would actually leave without enough money. One of them told me years later that they thought I was completely crazy, but they couldn’t be left responsible for my starving to death in the jungle! Right there on the spot, they gathered the remaining monthly support I needed. Ah… Jehovah Jireh!

My old mentor used to say – “Look at the sparrows, missionary! When God quits feeding the sparrows, missionaries will become extinct.” Well, the birds are still eating.

Three decades plus two years ago today I started a missionary journey for Christ.

I find myself especially tender on this anniversary. 4:00 AM tears puddle my keyboard as I reflect on the astounding privileges of my life. To be used by God, even just once in a lifetime; to unhinge a stronghold of the enemy by the power of the gospel and Jesus’ name would have been enough. But he’s given me so much more. I will die singing praises.

Amazing grace, amazing God!

October 3, 1977: God fed the sparrows and sent a missionary on his way.

Alex Chediak Interviews David Sitton

AJ — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:16:09 +0000

Blogger Alex Chediak recently interviewed my boss and friend, David Sitton, founder and president of To Every Tribe. The interview can be read here. Also, I’ve posted the interview on the To Every Tribe blog.

2009 To Every Tribe Mission Conference

AJ — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:28:57 +0000

I’d like to invite you to check out the full-page ad for our annual mission conference on p. 62 of the Aug. 29, 2009 issue of WORLD magazine.

The theme of this year’s conference is “The Privilege of Suffering.” Conference speakers include David Sitton (To Every Tribe), Dr. Erwin Lutzer (Moody Church), Dr. Timothy George (Beeson Divinity School), Dr. Hershael York (SBTS), Dr. David Sills (SBTS), and Mr. Fred Zaspel.

For more conference information and registration please visit the To Every Tribe website. I also mentioned the conference in an earlier post (here).

NOTE: If you’d like to promote this conference on your blog or website, feel free to “take” the add above in this post.

TETM’s Annual Mission Conference

AJ — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:22:12 +0000

If you live in the southeast (or elsewhere for that matter) and are interested in missions, you may want to attend To Every Tribe’s annual mission conference on October 29 – 31. The conference will be held in Dalton, GA (about 30 min. south of Chattanooga) at the NorthWest Georgia Trade & Conference Center. The theme of this year’s conference will be The Privilege of Suffering.

This year’s conference speakers include TETM directors, David Sitton, Rod Conner, and Ron Sanford, as well as Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, Dr. Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School, Dr. Hershael York, professor of preaching at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. David Sills, professor of missions at SBTS, and Mr. Fred Zaspel, pastor at the Reformed Baptist Church of Franconia, PA.

This is going to be a challenging and edifying conference. Hope to see you there! For more information about the conference and accommodation options, please see TETM’s website.

To whet your appetite, you can listen to one of the messages from TETM’s 2008 missions conference, The Purpose Driven Death: