- Home
- Speakers
- Merle Flory
- Raising Missionaries For God
Raising Missionaries for God
Merle Flory

Merle Flory (N/A–N/A) is an American preacher and evangelist known for his ministry within conservative evangelical and Anabaptist circles, particularly through his association with events like the Youth Bible School (YBS) and Homes On Purpose retreats. Specific details about his early life, such as birth date and place, are not widely documented. He and his wife, Judy, have served as missionaries and educators, notably teaching in Kathmandu, Nepal, with Macedonian Teaching Ministry in 2013, and later moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in October of that year, where Merle took on the role of assistant director for the ministry. Flory’s preaching career includes delivering sermons such as "Free From Self," "I Need Jesus for My Identity," and "Preparing Our Children For Persecution," recorded at the 2022 YBS and 2023 Homes On Purpose events, which are preserved on platforms like Boomplay and SermonIndex.net. His messages focus on themes of spiritual freedom, reliance on Christ, and family-centered evangelism, reflecting a practical and biblically grounded approach. Based in Ellensburg, Washington, before his international service, Flory continues to minister through preaching and teaching, contributing to the spiritual development of congregations and families within his community.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the preacher begins by leading the congregation in singing the song "Jesus Loves Me" in both English and Spanish. He then asks the children to think of themselves as arrows, being sent out as missionaries to spread the word of God. He uses the analogy of a bow and arrow to illustrate how children can go farther and longer than adults in their mission. The preacher emphasizes the importance of children being connected to the power of Jesus Christ and taking that power to places that adults may never reach.
Scriptures
Sermon Transcription
Sending them out. Raising missionaries for God. I sat back there just a few minutes ago, and we started singing, Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, and then shifted into, Lord, make me a missionary. I'm just going to tell you what went through my mind. There was a little voice back behind me, and that mouth must have been open as far as it could be opened. And I just heard this child singing, Lord, prepare me to be a missionary. And I thought of the words of Jesus when He said that if the children would not cry out, that the very stones would cry out the glory of God. And I thought, praise God, I wonder, I wonder where God will take that little missionary. And then God whispered in my ear right back there on that bench, ask the people, who was the greatest missionary that ever lived? Who wants to answer? The greatest missionary that ever lived. Who? Let's say it together. Jesus. And the Lord whispered in my ear in that pew, that if you fail to tell the people that the greatest missionary that ever lived that was ever sent was my son, you have failed at all. Sending them out. The greatest missionary that ever lived. The greatest missionary for God that ever lived. The greatest missionary for God that ever traveled. The greatest missionary for God that ever spoke for God said these words, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. I want to give you a quote from Nels Cleveland before I forget it. That I think is really worthy and just bears bringing out tonight before we start. When I was assigned this topic, I began to ask different people. Some people like Nels. So, what was in your home that would inspire you to be a missionary? How was your trade? What did you observe? And we had breakfast together one morning and he shared many things. But this is something that he shared with me and I quote him. Fundamentally, Christianity is about Jesus Christ. Not about the godly home. Not about missions, theology, or our standards of faith and practice. Until one realizes this, none of the others will make sense. When one does realize this, all of the others will start coming to light. To place missions as the primary focus of our Christianity would be wrong. But if Christ is the focus, missions will surely have their rightful place. Sending them out. Missionaries for God. I think I'll just tell a couple stories that as a parent raising children, you're never sure just exactly how God grips their hearts and how they're going to be persuaded to go out and to share. One day we were eating lunch in the home business. I was home most of the time for lunch time. This particular day at lunch time, I always dreaded this. We didn't have a patch of ground big enough to have a tractor or anything like that. So about once a year, we'd kind of see if we could get some farmer to come in with his tractor and plow up a garden that probably wasn't much bigger than this chapel. And it was just a nuisance to him. So this particular day we had a neighbor, an older man, and kind of hated to bother him. Just glad he was there. He was out there plowing the garden. And all of a sudden, one of the boys just jumped up from the table, dashed out the back door, and ran out there to the garden as fast as he could run. And it kind of scared Judy. Like, oh no, he's getting in the road to the tractor. And this old man, he stopped this big international and he leaned down there, you know, and one of the boys just climbed right up on the tractor. And he was hard of hearing. He leaned down there and listened. And pretty soon, the child came down off of the tractor and ran back in the house, sat back down at the table. And we said, what did you say to Donald? He said, well, I asked him if he was baptized. Another situation we had. Got a call that there was an auditor coming. We've got some accountants in here. An auditor was coming to audit the books. Oh, you heard of that? Kind of dreaded it, but really didn't have anything to hide. He said, well, just set up on the living room table. Be fine. And so we spread out the dining room table there. Oh, this was long about midway into the audit, I suppose. And here came one of the boys into the house. He kind of stood there at the end of the table a while. And all of a sudden, he just like this. Everybody ought to know. Everybody ought to know. Everybody ought to know who Jesus is. I mean, that auditor looked at me, and I looked at him. It was pretty quiet in there, and he said, that's okay. So things like that experience many times with your children. And I guess what I want to say is sometimes, I even want to say I've heard some voices of your children just singing out. And never, ever, ever go back there and say, whoa! Try to put the muffler on that. Or try to calm them down from, oh, you shouldn't have asked him that. Or you should have said it this way. We'll talk more about influence and affirmation later. Right now, I'd like for you to open your Bibles to Psalms 127. As we think about this message, sending them out. And I'm going to begin reading in verse 4. Psalms 127. Verse 4. It says, Oh, as arrows. Arrows. That reminds me. Arrows. As arrows. Now, earlier today, Harrison came up and knocked on my door. And outside the door, there was two sticks. One kind of laying like, about like that. Another one laying kind of like that. And I said, so what is that, Harrison? He said, that's my bow. And that's my arrow. And so I said, say, I'd like to borrow that bow and arrow. But he still wanted to play with it. So, we made a deal that he would bring the bow and arrow to the chapel tonight. Well, this is kind of what he started with, was just one arrow. Just one arrow. That's what he had. And that's what I asked him to bring to chapel tonight, was this one arrow. Well, it's kind of interesting. Maybe God will give us some lessons. Look at all these arrows up here. I think Harrison got some other help. But there's short arrows. Fat arrows. Big old brown, gnarly arrows. Little skinny arrows. Longer arrows. Older arrows. Younger arrows. Just arrows everywhere. And I was delighted to see all these arrows. Psalms 127, verse 4 says, As arrows. As arrows. I'm glad there's more than just one arrow here tonight. There's arrows here tonight. As arrows. Now, I want to talk a little bit about these arrows. As arrows. You know, an arrow is something that has a design about it. I mean, this one doesn't obviously have too much design. But an arrow has a design about it. And it has a purpose. I'll just say that. Arrows have a purpose. As arrows. Arrows have a purpose. Most arrows are going for a target. Most arrows have a target that they are going toward. Some arrows are used to defend against the enemy. Some arrows are used to save people's lives. Some arrows are shot out and they never return again. I know this is kind of off the subject. But you know, it would make a good illustration. You see, if this is an arrow and I'm getting ready to shoot it. And I just decided that I would attach some of this paraphernalia with it. Wouldn't that be something? To get up and try to shoot an arrow that had all this stuff attached to it. How far would it go? How effective would it be hitting the target? Or defending the enemy or saving a life? I don't think it would go very well. So, as arrows. Children, our children are like arrows. As arrows. Let's read on. What does it say? As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man. Oh, the hand of a mighty man. If you're a father here tonight. I want every father here tonight to raise up both hands just like this. Just raise them up. And make sure they're open. Just like that. Now children, you look around. You look around. And you are looking at hands of mighty men. You are mighty men. Because God has given you arrows. And your hearts are here seeking after the Word of God. These are hands of mighty men. Mighty men. Look at them. Okay? You put them down. Sisters. If you have children. If you are a mother. I want you to raise your hands. Raise your hands. Raise your hands. And you look around children. Those are hands of mighty women. Those are hands of mighty women. You may put them down. You notice they had their hands open. They weren't clenched like this. They weren't clenched like this. Sometimes we might. If you have an arrow. You're going to shoot it. And I don't know a lot about it. Jordan talked me into some of it that we enjoyed together. But you know he would say, Okay, there's a bench mark up here on your cheek. And then you got to let go of it. Like that. And then it goes. But if you hang on to it. It won't go anywhere. Mighty men. And mighty women. And mighty hunters. And mighty God. Are depending and relying on these arrows tonight. To impact the world. And His kingdom forever. And some of those mighty hands. And some of those arrows that He's relying on. Are yours. Well, what does it say? As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man. So are children. So are children of the youth. And so I believe at this time. I'm going to call for the children. Parents, if you're comfortable with your children coming up here. And being responsible here for a little. You may send your arrows up. I would like to see them here. Just come right on up here children. And that's the boy. Just come right on up. And some of you can stand down here. Well, we're probably going to just leave the arrows right there. You're going to be the arrows. Yeah, those are arrows. Those are long arrows. Now, I'm going to talk just a little bit. And then we're going to do something together. You are arrows. All of you children are like arrows. Okay? So, when I met Brother Roger the other night. He says, these are my arrows. He pointed to his children. You know, look at our children like arrows. And it's just like these arrows children. Some of them are long. And some of them are short. Some of you children are tall. And some of you are short. And some of you are a little different colored hair than others. And that's just the way these arrows are. Okay? You're arrows. I want to teach you children a little something. And you just stay right there. I'm going to show you a little bit more about arrows. Now, this is... Who knows what this is? A pole. What kind of a pole is it? A yellow pole. That's right. It's a yellow pole. It's a what? Oh, yeah. It's knocked down bee nest and everything. But this pole, let me tell you, it's a little bit like your mother and father. You know, mothers and daddies are older. And what I'm saying about sending out children, these children of the youth, they are full of vigor. Just look at the vigor they've got. They're full of life. They're going to live longer than we do. They're going to go farther than we go. These children are going to be extensions. Now, let me show you about extensions. Okay? Hank, you come down here. And I want you to demonstrate. You're an arrow. You get a hold of this, Hank. And you kind of just head out down the aisle. Just kind of go until you can't go anymore. Okay? Keep on going. Pull, pull. Look how much farther Hank is going than old Merle. Look at that. Let's keep going a little more. Look at that. Hank is going places that I can't go. Isn't that something? Now, keep on going, Hank. Look at that. Look how far out Hank is able to go. Look how many people out there he could reach that I can't reach from where I'm at. Because he's an extension. And children, every one of you are extensions. That's the way an arrow is. An arrow goes farther. Okay, Hank, bring her back in. That's the stuff. So think about your children, you mighty men and women. Thank you, Hank. Think about your children being extensions. Extensions. Now, stay right here. I'll give you another little lesson about extensions. Children being extensions. Here we go. Oh, don't set the water. Who knows what this is? An extension cord. So what do we do with extension cords? And what else do we hook them up to? Receptacles. What do we get out of a receptacle? What's another word we use for it sometimes? Power. That's right. So we hook this thing up to the power. Okay. McKenna, just head out. Head out through the aisle with that thing. Head out. You can hold it right here in the middle. Hold on just like that. And just let it unroll. Just head out clear of the back of the chapel. Okay. Okay. Now, we have a receptacle up here. That's good. Thank you. So what happens is we plug this thing into the power and it takes power way out from beyond where the receptacle is. Okay. You can bring it back in. Thank you. So I want you parents to think about your children as being extensions. Sending them out like extensions. They'll go farther than we will. They'll go longer than we will. And they'll take power. They plug into the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. And they'll take that power to places that we'll never go. Okay. So what I want you children to do is sing a song. I want you to sing Jesus Loves Me. And then when we're finished singing Jesus Loves Me, then the Turner children are going to sing it in Spanish. Just as an example of how we go out as missionaries. Okay. Let's gather together. Let's sing. Jesus loves me. Sing out there. For the Bible tells me so. It told me. The Bible tells me so. Thank you. Now, why don't you Turner children get together here and sing it to us in Spanish. Sing what you know. Jesus loves me. Thank you very much. Okay.
Raising Missionaries for God
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download

Merle Flory (N/A–N/A) is an American preacher and evangelist known for his ministry within conservative evangelical and Anabaptist circles, particularly through his association with events like the Youth Bible School (YBS) and Homes On Purpose retreats. Specific details about his early life, such as birth date and place, are not widely documented. He and his wife, Judy, have served as missionaries and educators, notably teaching in Kathmandu, Nepal, with Macedonian Teaching Ministry in 2013, and later moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in October of that year, where Merle took on the role of assistant director for the ministry. Flory’s preaching career includes delivering sermons such as "Free From Self," "I Need Jesus for My Identity," and "Preparing Our Children For Persecution," recorded at the 2022 YBS and 2023 Homes On Purpose events, which are preserved on platforms like Boomplay and SermonIndex.net. His messages focus on themes of spiritual freedom, reliance on Christ, and family-centered evangelism, reflecting a practical and biblically grounded approach. Based in Ellensburg, Washington, before his international service, Flory continues to minister through preaching and teaching, contributing to the spiritual development of congregations and families within his community.