My curiosity about missions began as a child. I distinctly remember a meeting held in our home where a Pakistani pastor shared stories about his ministry in Pakistan. They were the sort of stories that give you goose bumps where people who are hostile to Christianity come to faith . I distinctly remember him saying that he was a missionary to Australia. For years I wondered what he meant by that and it played on my mind.
I also remember the first time I read Matthew 28:18-20. “Go and make disciples of all nations…”. Those words seemed to stand out in a way that got my attention and increasingly over the years, I discovered that the Bible had a lot to say about God’s heart for the nations. There were times when it felt like every passage in the Bible seemed to point towards mission in some way.
Over the years my interest in missions grew through people I met, reading the Bible, and reading biographies of missionaries. Sometimes it was a strong feeling, but at other times it has been more an understanding that mission is important to God, so I want it to be important to me.
As my husband and I made decisions that led to us becoming missionaries, we sometimes felt uncertain and had doubts. Later on, in the middle of some really tough times, those doubts almost became overwhelming. Two things kept me going in mission during those dark times. One was all the supporters who stood behind us and were praying for us. The other was remembering all the ways that we had felt God leading us over the years.
In Joshua 4, God directed the Israelites to pile up stones as a memorial for what God had done in bringing the people across the Jordan and into the promised land. Whenever they had doubts there was a clear reminder that God was the one who had led them to this land, despite the battles they faced. In the same way, it is really helpful for you to take note of what God is doing, as a reminder in the future when you face various battles. These reminders can also help guide your plans for the future.
Next steps
What are the things that have sparked your interest in missions?
Are there particular Bible passages? People? Stories?
Write them down as a reminder of how God has lead you up to this point.
What do they reveal about the types of ministry or people that touch your heart?
