25th Anniversary Message From Bro. Frank Padilla

Brothers and Sisters below please read the message of Bro. Frank Padilla for all of us.

Date: Jun 26, 2006 2:24 PM

Greetings of peace and joy, brethren.

We have just finished our anniversary activities and events. What a wonderful time this has been--to have so many of our brethren come from all over the world to share the joy of 25 years of God's faithfulness, and to hear the Lord speak to us in various ways through the talks, sharings and fellowship. One thing we have said often enough is that our work is just starting! The first 25 years were the preparation, and now, with the 7 pillars, the fullness of our work has been revealed, and so the next 25 years will be a time of living out our mission to the full, and going about it with an even greater sense of urgency. The Lord has blessed us in 25 years in order that He might use CFC as a blessing to others, indeed, to the whole world.

One totally astonishing manifestation of God's faithfulness and power is how He so dramatically fulfilled the goal He gave us over 10 years ago to be in 153 countries by the end of our 25th year. Ten years ago we were only in about two dozen countries. By the end of 2005, we were already in 134 countries. But then we had 19 more countries to go, with only half a year to accomplish the goal. In His often dramatic fashion, God brought us to our 153rd country on the very last day of our first 25 years. That was yesterday as we had our culminating celebration. I believe God wanted, at the end of our 25 years, to give us a solid message: that He is faithful, that He can accomplish the humanly impossible, that we can trust in Him, that He wants to use CFC, the community He Himself has raised, in a mighty way for mission in this third millennium.

We will face many more humanly impossible tasks, but God says that nothing is impossible with Him. So we can certainly accomplish GK777, and 25 million trees in 5 years, and whatever other miraculous work He will give us the privilege to do. But then, it will also depend on our response. So we need to respond in accordance with God's trust and dependence on us. We must give our all. The next 25 years is a call to sacrifice, denial of self, embracing the cross, and even giving of our very lives. If we do, we are going to see God's plan work in our life and ministry.

On a practical basis, we should faithfully attend our meetings, we should tithe (or at least give something regularly on a monthly basis), we should practice active submission to those over us, we should be open to service. We must live out our covenant in CFC. Then we can be a people God will use, to accomplish His eternal plan. Let us not be the obstacle to God's power and majesty. Let us not be selfish with our time, talent and treasure. Remember that becoming an obstacle does not just affect our relationship with God, but adversely affects the many souls that God wants to reach through our work.

I will make one particular call at this time. I believe that God wants to greatly expand our missionary force (not short term mission but those who stay to live in another country for two years or more). God has already been calling many of our young singles, and they have been responding. I believe though that God will be calling older couples. In places like Africa they look up to those who are older with respect, and younger people can only do so much. So if you are retired or retiring, and if your kids are finished with school and are on their own, and if your mortgage is already paid, and if you are thinking what to do with your still many productive years (perhaps you are thinking of another job), then please consider becoming a missionary couple. I assure you, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. If you think God might be calling you, let me know.

Praise God for His work in our lives. Thank you all for your work in the last 25 years. Let us all look forward to seeing even more of God's power and majesty in the next 25 years, as we truly give of ourselves to the life and mission of CFC. God bless you all.

frank