For those who have eyes to see, all my sermons are meant to fuel missions. Take last week’s for example. Misplaced shame is a mountain in the way of missions. Jesus means for us to cast it into the sea. “If you have faith…it will be done” (Matthew 21:21ff).

The jagged mountain of shame becomes a highway for missionary joy when we blast it away with the bombshells of Bible promises. How many megatons of power are in these shame-blasting promises?

There is significant discussion today about oral cultures and how they learn and how they should be evangelized and built up in faith. The discussion ranges from pre-literate to post-literate—from cultures that have never had their languages written down to Western groups that no longer read but only watch images and listen to iPods. Of course, awareness of orality is not new, since virtually all cultures before the modern period and its printing press learned orally.

God's calling to missions is analogous to the gift of prophecy which
we talked about on Sunday,
October 10. The calling is not authoritative the way the Scriptures
are. Your calling is never beyond question. You can’t claim it to others
the way you quote scripture to them.

Todd's Acceptance to Bethlehem[1].pdf

Dear Bethlehem,

With joy and thankfulness in Jesus, I accept your call to serve as Minister for Global Outreach. I thank God for his Jeremiah 29:11 faithfulness to Tamara and me these past 25 years. God knows the plans, and he can be trusted. It has been an honor for us to serve with you as global partners to Africa these past 17 years, and now we join with you to nurture and send hundreds more to bless the families of the Earth in the strength that God provides.

Highlights from July 29 Strategy Meeting include the affirmation of Todd Rasmuson as our Minister for Global Outreach and the election of two new elders, a membership report, a Treasurer’s Report, a report on the recent closing of our South Campus land purchase, and a final decision on a referred motion.

Minister for Global Outreach



At the July 29 All-Church Quarterly Strategy Meeting members will vote to call Todd Rasmuson as Minister for Global Outreach.



Todd Rasmuson Resume.pdf

Summary Resume – April 2011

Personal Calling Statement:

Address:

Work History:

Todd Rasmuson Search Committee Recommendation.pdf

History

Todd Rasmuson FAQ.pdf

Bethlehem’s Minister for Global Outreach Role & Candidate Todd Rasmuson

What is Bethlehem’s Missions pastor history?

Bethlehem has had two Missions pastors to date—Tom Steller (part-time) and Erik Hyatt (full-time). 

Does Bethlehem need a full-time Minister for Global Outreach?

Yes, we believe so. Bethlehem currently supports more than 100 Global Outreach families all over the world.

What are Todd’s qualifications?

(Introductory statements are from the New City of Nations Church leadership team.)

ERIK
This world is different from the one my fathers knew.
My grandfather is a Palestinian, Abraham Aziz. He came to America and met my grandmother, Mary Volkar, from Yugoslavia. They raised children and grandchildren in an America that was largely populated by immigrants from Western European countries.

But the world my children and I live in now is different.