"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge
of God and of Jesus our Lord" (II Peter 1:2).
I just spent several days with extended family - my parents,
three of my siblings, seven nephews, and one niece. (Our family doesn't have
girls!) This was our fifth annual attempt to do this; only once have we managed
to get everyone at the same time. We
don't do anything extraordinary, just spend time talking, playing, and of
course eating. These are special and always enjoyable times together. I realize
many of you are separated from family, but I trust you will savor the times
that you do have - both with the family members that are right around you as
well as with other family when you have the opportunity. Thankfully, even when
we are separated from our biological families, we have a deeper family in our brothers
and sisters in Christ, and that is also a relationship to be cherished.
After I surrendered my heart to God at the beginning of my
sophomore year of college, I started to develop an interest in missions.
Nothing really compelling; at that point, I think my interest was confined to
the possibility of going on one of the sponsored mission teams from the
university. In the newness of my maturing as a Christian, I did not think I was
ready yet the summer after my sophomore year. I needed that year just to grow
in God. But after my junior year, I was able to go on the team to Mexico.
Our trip was ten weeks, I think. For the most part we spent
one week at a location and then moved to a different city or town the next
week. In this way, we met a number of different missionary families; we saw a
variety of churches and other ministries. When I returned from that trip, my
interest in missions had increased significantly, but I still didn't know if it
was what God wanted me to do. With some elective hours, I took a few missions
courses.
At that time, Bob Jones University had what they called a
vespers program every other Sunday afternoon. The program was typically
comprised of speech and music numbers centered around a particular theme. Early
in my senior year, one of those programs focused on missions. As I sat through
that service (with a young man who had also been on the Mexico team), God
brought His message to my heart. There was no handwriting on the wall, no
visible or audible sign from heaven. Nevertheless, as that service progressed,
I KNEW. There was no doubt that this is what God wanted me to do. Since I was
already open to the idea and praying about it, this wasn't even a huge battle.
It was more like I had been asking God if that is what He wanted from my life,
so when He answered my question by saying yes, I had my answer. I was so
certain of this direction that as we left the building, I told the young man I
was with of this leading that God had given.
I didn't know the exact path that lay before me. I didn't
have a destination or a specific ministry approach. I didn't even know the
timing. I just knew that from that day forward, my path was carrying me toward
the mission field.
God has many ways of directing the hearts of His children
toward ministry, and toward missions in particular. In addition to that vespers
service, I would acknowledge two other things that probably had great influence
on me. One of those, of course, was the summer that I traveled on that team to
Mexico. The other is related to my home church growing up. Our church loved
missionaries. In fact, the services that included a visiting missionary were
often our favorite services. Even as kids, we loved to hear their
presentations. We talked to them and asked questions. We looked at their
displays.
I think of one lady in particular, Mary Baker. She was a
single missionary in Africa for many, many years. We regularly prayed for her.
In Sunday school we collected offerings for her. We anticipated her visits
while on furlough. We hung on her words as she talked. We loved her stories.
She was one of our favorite people.
So, of the three factors that were probably most meaningful
in directing me toward missions - that vespers service, the mission team, and
the positive childhood exposure to missionaries - two of them had very much to
do with missionaries themselves. They came to my church, sharing their hearts
and their stories. Later, they welcomed me into their homes, showing me their
ministries and allowing me to participate alongside them.
I don't know where these components of hosting
individuals/teams and visiting churches rank on your list of preferred aspects of
your ministry. I am sure that visitors can sometimes be a bit of a burden or
can seem demanding or even extraneous to what you are trying to do. While on
furlough, you might prefer to actually get some rest rather than have a busy
schedule of travel. Of course, in both of these areas there must be a level of
balance, but I see them as very important parts of your ministry. Perhaps more
accurately, they are important parts of God's grand objective.
God says, "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to
send out workers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:38). You have the unique
opportunity to do more than pray for fellow workers. Because of your
involvement in the ministry, you can put a first-hand face on missions as you
share in churches and as you host visitors. You can be an important factor in
God's calling of new missionaries. Truly, what you do today matters for
eternity. Don't grow weary in well-doing.
May God bless and strengthen you this week.
Love in Christ,
Peggy HoltOpen Door Baptist Church
Lebanon, PA
www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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