Dear Missionary Lady,
Our church recently held a missions emphasis week, with the
theme "The Urgency of the Hour." Two missionary men who served on the
mission field for years and are now State-side by God's intervention earnestly
shared their hearts that they wish they could still be serving in Africa. We
heard statistics about world population, countries that missionaries don't even
go to, and how many people are dying without hearing of Christ. We heard about
the reduced number of missionaries going to the field and about the aging
missionary population, of which fewer and fewer are still involved in foreign
missions. We heard about particular countries with really intense needs whose
only hope is the gospel. We heard about fields white to harvest and no laborers
to go.
My heart was touched. As I listened to these presentations,
I wished I were twenty-five years younger - but with the maturity and Biblical
understanding that I have now. I wished I were healthy. I wished I were a man
who could preach and lead churches. I wished my days could be devoted to the
gospel rather than making a living. I wished I spoke more languages. I wished I
had unlimited financial resources so I could help others to go.
The truth is that I'm single and female, which limits not
only how I could even live abroad, but also limits the aspects of ministry I
could be involved in. Health-wise, I
barely manage the essentials of life here, let alone the demands of a
foreign land and culture or the level of activity required for mission work. And
I don't have unlimited finances.
All of this made me feel helpless - like my heart was
overflowing with wanting to serve God in missions, but seemingly totally
inadequate to do anything significant. I asked God what I can do to help world
missions, and I don't really know the answer. Due to the life God has given me,
it seems that my "missionary" service will be limited and auxiliary
in nature.
Of course, I want to continue my ministry of encouragement
to you dear ladies. If I can't be on active duty, I want to help those of you
who are there to be strengthened in your work. I wish I could do more to help
you in your ministry, but that is a challenge when I am here and you are there.
The only thing that comes to my mind is that I have accumulated a lot of Bible
study over the years. I have done numerous Bible studies on various topics and
Bible books, a few of which I have developed into Sunday school curriculum
(Psalms and Hebrews). I would be happy to make these materials available to you
if it would help you in teaching classes or even in your own study. I'm not
sure if this idea is practical or helpful, but if you are interested in knowing
what I have available, please feel free to ask.
Other than that, the biggest way God impacted me was with
the idea of prayer - Jesus' instruction
to pray for laborers for the harvest. I realize that many of the needy
countries around the world are ones that American missionaries can't even get
to if they tried and wouldn't survive in even if they got there. We are
dependent on God to open doors and to send laborers; He can send people to
countries and people groups that neither I nor anyone I know would be able to
reach. So I am compiling a list of world countries and basic data about them so
that I can pray more specifically and knowledgeably for countries around the
world. I'm hoping to be able to share this information in a way that will
prompt others to join me in praying for laborers. I also want to take names of
people I know - particularly boys and young men - and ask God to call some of
them into His harvest field. In addition to prayer, I want to be an
encouragement to young people who are contemplating missions, including giving
support whenever possible to young people taking missions trips.
Even so, I still feel that what I can do is very small. This
led me to think about you ladies and your families. I am so thankful for you. I
am thankful that you are doing what I cannot do. I am thankful that your hearts
have been tender to God and that you have yielded to His leading even when it
was not easy. I'm thankful that you are faithful.
I wanted to encourage you with the reminder of what a
privilege and opportunity you have. Most of you are already on the mission
field. You already know the language. You already have contacts and a
developing ministry. You are exactly where the need is. You can actually touch
the lives of those hurting, needy people whose only hope is Jesus. You can have
a very practical, daily role in doing what most Christians are so remote from
being able to do.
Serving God in missions requires a level of devotion to God,
a level of submission, and a level of maturity; most Christians sadly will
never reach those necessary levels that would even allow them to consider
missionary service. Praise God that your heart is inclined to that ministry and
that you have yielded to Him and prepared to serve Him. Among Christians who do
have that passion and submission, there are many who have been providentially
prevented (for a variety of reasons) from serving abroad. They simply can't go
or are not qualified or equipped. Praise God for leading and guiding you to
where you are and for preparing you for what you do.
You are indeed in a very special spot. God's blessings may
not always come to you in the practical ways that you would like to see them,
but there is no doubt that God is blessing your labors for Him. What a unique
opportunity and privilege is yours! May God use you in extraordinary and
unusual ways this week to do for Him the work that only a few are in the
position to do and to take advantage of the unique opportunities that many will
never see. Truly, what you do today matters for eternity!
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com
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