Yesterday was an amazing day in our church. We had a wonderful couple renew their vows after forty years of marriage, three baptisms for those who wanted to give a public profession of their acceptance of Jesus as their Savior and we also commissioned a beautiful young woman to become a missionary in Nicaragua as an English school teacher. There is much to be thankful for and much reason for praise!
As Karla, the young woman, spoke to our congregation about her leaving later this week for a year long commission as missionary, many of us cried with her. What an honor and privilege to be able to touch other lives and share the gospel of Jesus! Yet, even as our hearts wept for joy, our hearts also ached, as we knew the pain her mother would face in allowing her beautiful daughter to go into a foreign country, seemingly, all alone.
But she is not alone. She has God’s angels surrounding her and she can be certain of God’s presence which allows her the freedom to share His word to these precious children as she teaches. She has the prayers and support of our entire congregation to under-gird her every step of the way.
Will she face challenges and dangers? I’m certain of it. Satan is determined to undermine whatever the Lord puts before us, no matter what our gift. This is as true for each of us as it is for Karla. She’s going into a foreign country to face the enemy, yet we face him here every moment of every day, as well. It is only through God’s power, we can rebuke the ultimate liar, putting him in his place, both behind and under us, so that God’s work can be done.
I admire Karla, because for me, she epitomizes what a missionary should be. She is strong and determined to follow God’s will. Yet again, aren’t all Christians called to be missionaries? We need not go into another country, although that is a wonderful thing to be able to do. Rather, for those who remain in the comfort of our homes, we are called to minister and share His gospel with our neighbors, our co-workers or on campus if we are students and our family. We each will, as the scripture says, give an account of our service when he returns, when indeed, “Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is God.”
I hope you will join me in prayer for safety and good health for our young friend and missionary. If you would like more information about Karla and her missionary work, let me know.
It is written: " 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' " So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:11-12
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