THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY.
AND ON THE OCCASION OF SUCH AN ANNIVERSARY, LET US REFLECT:

1. WHY are we involved in this ministry?

A. Because JESUS CHRIST asked us to go:
Math.24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations”
Math.28: 19: “Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations’”.
Mark 13: 10: “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations”.
Mark 24: 47: “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations”.
Romans 16: 26: “so that all nations might believe and obey him”.
John 17: 18: “As you sent me (Jesus) into the world, I have sent them into the world”.

B. Because there is a connection between the great commission and music as a ministry:
Already in the Old Testament you find this call to go, share, bless and praise/sing:
Psalm 105: 1: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts”.
In this verse you find the connection between God’s call and the special music ministry of the Continentals worldwide. This same connection you find in Isaiah 12:4-6: ”Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you”.

C. Because God created this world; we participate to take dominion over what was lost in paradise…
Gen.1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”.
Ps.24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it” (see as well Ps.89:11/12)

D. Because God LOVES his world and people:
Deut.33:3: “Surely it is You, who love the people”
God is not on a mission of condemnation, revenge, wrath to send as many people to hell as possible. NO, on the contrary, He is on a mission of love.
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”.
John 17: 37: “I (Jesus) came into this world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth will listen to me”.
1 Tim.1: 15: “Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners”.
1 John 2: 2: “He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”.

E. Because there is a longing for ‘something’.
Romans 8: 19: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed”.
Colos.3: 10: “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator”.
Romans 12: 2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world (in this case ungodly behaviour), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. “All over the world – More than music”, it’s salvation through Christ Jesus that the Continentals have been presenting throughout the years. Looking back, we see an enormous number of blessed visitors. Looking forward, we want to continue to present God’s glory to millions  around the world. 

2. Thoughts about 40 years of ministry.

A.What has been done and achieved is a proof of the acts of God, not a prove of the intelligence of men. The Continental ministry has survived a long list of trials and unusual situations!

2 Cor.1: 11: “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many”.
2 Cor.4: 15: “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God”.

B. Many reasons to be thankful.

That the Continental ministry is still present, is a real act of the grace of God! So lets be THANKFUL.

Hebrews 12: 28: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe”.
Eph.5: 19/20: “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
1 Thes.2: 13: “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe”.

C. What do we find in the Bible on the figure 40:

1. Noah: 40 days of rain & flood (Gen.7:4,12,17)
2. Israel: 40 years of manna (Ex.16:35)
3. Israel: had to stay 40 years in the desert  as punishment(Num.14:33; 32:13)
4. Israel: 40 years of God’s provision in the desert (Deut.2:7)
5. Moses: 40 days with God on the mountain (Ex.24:18; 34:28)
6. David ruled for 40 years ( 2 Sam.5:4)
7. Salomon ruled 40 years (1 Kings 11:42)
8. Elia could go 40 days straight on to God’s mountain, thanks to special food (1 Kings19:8)
9. Jesus was 40 days in the desert, overcame temptations (Math.4:2; Luke 4:2)
10. After the resurrection Jesus showed himself 40 days till Ascensionday (Acts 1:3)
11. Paul was punished several times with the 40 -1 lashes (2 Cor.11:24)

WHAT IS GOD’S GLORY in these examples of 40’ties?
• Salvation, Grace (1)
• Provision (2,4, 8)
• Inspiration & motivation (5,9)
• Endurance (8, 9,11)
• Revelation and guidance (10, 5)Now we need to apply these 5 principles to the history of Continentals, we do find those 5 keys to God’s Glory on many pages of the Continental history book! AND do you find them on the pages of your personal life?

CELEBRATE WITH CONTINENTAL MINISTRIES IN 2008 AS WE THANK GOD FOR 40!