Five months ago, I started my job at East-West. I’ve felt called to missions for over a year now, and I prayed for months that God would open up an opportunity for me to serve Him and make Him known throughout the world.
In my mind, I thought that obviously meant I would be on a plane heading into “no man’s land” right about now. Instead, I sit at a desk, drink a lot of coffee and stare at a computer until my eyes hurt at the home office.I love my job. I love my coworkers. I love the mission of East-West.
However, I have often battled with the lie that the enemy whispers in my ear: Am I really answering my calling to missions?
As I have prayed, the Lord has answered with a resound “YES!”
I serve the Lord and support our missionaries from the United States. My risks look different. My evangelism strategies may look different. But I am obeying the Great Commission.
I go through my daily life loving people and sharing the gospel. I am encouraging our missionaries by support raising in the Development Department to continue growing this ministry and moving it forward. I take the responsibility to serve our field staff by praying for them and sending encouragement to them.
“Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many... And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” -1 Corinthians 12:14,16-20 (emphasis added)
Just like the Body of Christ is made up of many parts, a ministry also must be made up of many parts. Just because I am a hand and the missionaries are feet does not mean that either ceases to be a vital part to the mission and ministry of East-West.
I get to be part of an amazing team of people who are pushing towards God together and striving to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel. I even get the amazing chance to go overseas on a short-term trip with East-West.
The term, “missions,” is not for “them over there.” It’s for you and me right where we are at and right where God has called us to be.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -Colossians 3:17