What do you think of when you think of missionaries? Do you think of someone eating grubs in the Amazon Jungle? Sleeping in hammocks in Honduras? Dressed in tribal garb in South Africa? Hiding in secret locations in China?
When I think of missionaries, I think of people like Glenn and Pam Creech, Southern Baptists serving in Seoul, Korea; Rachel Brunclikova, a Cooperative Baptist serving in the Czech Republic; Deleris Carrion Rosa, an American Baptist serving in Haiti; and Macford Kalasa Chipuliko, National Baptist serving in Chilembwe, Malawi.
When I think of their lives, I think of sacrificing the comforts of friends and family and moving to a location far away. I think of trying to cross an awkward cultural barrier. I think of social exclusion, persecution and in some nations, possible death.
A missionary is one who sacrifices comforts for the sake of the Kingdom. Very few of us are familiar with that kind of sacrifice. We like to pick up our food at a drive-thru, take hot showers or soak in a hot bath, when we want it...we get it, if we don't like our church/family/job/friend we just get another one! We like cream in our coffee, 210 cable channels, yelling for our favorite sports team, and soothing our conscious at Christmas by buying a toy for a tot, sending money to the homeless shelter, or dropping coins in the Salvation Army bucket. Easy, clean, quick and we're done.
Daily, our missionaries follow God's leadership in Yemen, Brazil, Croatia, Argentina, Fiji, Kenya, Taiwan, Romania, Sumatra, Thailand, Venezuela and many other places as they spread the Good News of Christ's coming for all people. I wonder what they think of the Church in their homeland, the United States of America? I wonder if my heroes are proud of me, my church and my Convention?
They want, desire and deserve our prayers and financial support. But, at this writing, I wonder if they want more. I wonder if they want me, want all of us to identify with them by becoming missionaries ourselves...right here in their homeland. Just as they are my heroes, I wonder if I could become theirs?
As we pause this time of year to pray, thank and give our financial support to our missionaries, throughout the year we can express our thanks to them as we:
- pray for their personal needs and the needs of the people to whom they minister
- write to them at Christmas, on their birthdays, and at other times throughout the year
- give through your International Mission Board, special missions offerings or send a check to DC Baptist Convention and we'll forward it on so that their work can continually grow and thrive
- keep with current events that affect their lives and ministries as we read and view the news
- teach our children and youth about them and remain open to God's leadership through volunteerism or career service
Remembering missionaries year round is a good reminder to ourselves of our own disciple walk and the challenge that we have to be missionaries right here and right now. No, it's not politically correct to openly share your faith, but we are not called to be of this world but to be IN it! Let's learn from and practice missionary sacrifice. Who knows, we may leave an eternal impression upon one whom we encounter.
