Category: missions

I feel privileged to know several missionaries, but in a real way, Jesus calls us all to serve in such a capacity… no matter where we live. I heard a brother from Guatemala share the incredible way God changed his village. Jesus saved this man and charged him to stand against the evil one and declare hope and forgiveness of sins for all who would put their faith in Him. This man became a missionary in his own village. Now he is taking orphans off the street, leading them to Christ, and training them to go into all the world. “I believe these children will be the world’s greatest missionaries because they know the One that saves and they know no comforts in this world.”

Comforts may not be wrong, but the missionary sacrifices such rights for a greater good. Certainly Jesus gave up comfort as He left His throne in Heaven to come to this earth. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” His mission involved hardship and He was willing to endure all to save us. Now He sends His disciples. “As You have sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

We may want to argue or say we have pressing business, but Jesus does not waver in His requirements. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and turns back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Who will answer such an invitation? It sounds like Jesus is calling followers to pain and trouble. Sir Earnest Shackleton put out an invitation in a London newspaper before his quest to Antarctica in the early 1900’s: “MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY; SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER. SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS.” Thousands responded. Why?

Against all odds, Hudson Taylor left England in 1853 to take the gospel to China. Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddle left fame and success to live the rest of his life as a missionary in Asia. Jim and Elizabeth Elliot went to the unreached tribes in Ecuador. In 1956, Jim and four friends were murdered by those they tried to reach. Three years later, Elizabeth, three year old daughter, Valerie, and Rachel Saint, the sister of one of the murdered missionaries, went back to live with the very tribesmen who killed their loved ones. Thousands of unknown disciples have left the comforts of home to take the gospel to all the world. Why?

Perhaps we must see the invitation of Jesus in a different light. His call is much higher than Sir Shackelton’s and His purpose much greater. Jesus was not trying to scare people off with His words. He simply stated the truth, knowing the same enemy that opposed Him opposes all who follow. “Not everyone will answer My call. You must count the cost before you answer, but when you do, don’t turn back. I am inviting you to fight in a war of eternal importance. You must humbly walk by faith and learn to rely on My grace. Let your main objectives be to love and obey the Father. Remember His ways are not man’s ways. The Holy Spirit will direct and comfort you. You will face hardship, criticism, and perhaps even death, but do not fear… I am with you.”

It is a privilege to follow a King.

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

“They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:40-42

I witnessed an interesting thing in the Czech Republic last week. Each student from our school that went on the trip had been communicating by e-mail with a Czech student for the past couple of months. With great anticipation we visited their school and each student met his pen pal. What a beautiful thing it was to see teenagers from different cultures meet face to face.

I’m afraid we often take for granted the blessings we have in our land. While our students hear about God on a daily basis, our hosts have not had that privilege. The recent history of their land is full of difficulty. Few have been taught of a loving God who has created each of us for a purpose. Does this mean American kids are better than Czech kids? Of course not! God loves each of us with a love that is beyond our understanding.

Our students wanted to share this love during the week. Many found it quite challenging to share faith with new friends who had little knowledge of God. But something interesting happened as they spent time together. The best word to describe what I witnessed is “shine”. Through imperfect teenagers, God let Light shine. I doubt anyone would boast of our efforts, for we all felt quite inadequate. But we can trust that Jesus lives within those who put their faith in Him. And if Jesus lives, He will shine.

The last two nights we were together, we sang several songs of praise to our Father in heaven. As I looked around the room I marveled at what was taking place. Students who weren’t even sure there is a God were singing to Him. Many are praying that God will draw these dear people completely to Himself. But as we pray that God send revival throughout the world, let us remember the call Jesus gives His disciples and the interesting thing that results.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

If you find yourself not being thankful for what you have, take steps to change. Go without food a couple of days and notice how much you appreciate a simple meal. Visit another country and gain a fresh appreciation for your land. A year with poor health gave me a new appreciation for the ability to simply live. I don’t want to take things for granted any more.

This week, the world remembers events we know are true: an innocent man being arrested in a garden, a carpenter’s son nailed to a cross, and a dead man coming back to life. Could we even imagine how dark this world would be if these things had not taken place? May we never lose appreciation.

This afternoon, Taylor and I leave with a group from school to visit the Czech Republic. We hope to share the life of Jesus with people who may not know Him. I won’t get to write next week. May Easter bring you much joy and hope as we thank God for His miracles.

“Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever . Amen!” (Revelation 7:12)

This past Christmas was my second trip to Africa. Before moving to Capetown, my brother, Brian, was a missionary in Benin. A little over three years ago, my son, Taylor, and I visited this country in West Africa.

In Benin, there is much pagan worship. Voodoo is practiced openly and sacrifices are made to ancestral spirits. When one becomes a Christian, he turns his back on the false gods of his land. Disciples of Jesus understand they cannot worship idols and make sacrifices to demons while following the one true God. Though they often face persecution and hardship for choosing Jesus, they know true life is forfeited if they go back to the old ways. In the belly of the big fish, Jonah stated truth that holds today: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8)

Upon our return to this land, I saw clearly with spiritual eyes the things I had seen with physical eyes in West Africa. The same forces at work in Benin, that cause men and women to bow to a crude idol, are at work in the western culture. It is a frightening thought, but in some ways I think the people in Benin have an advantage. There the idols are seen. Here they are not recognized. When a person chooses the Lord there, it is clear he is rejecting the other gods of the land. A person who hears a call to follow the Lord here may not hear a call to count the cost.

Jesus spoke plainly about these matters when He walked the earth. He knows idolatry does not just involve graven images. He also knows what will be forfeited if man does not boldly choose to follow Him.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)