As the director of an international missions organization, one of my responsibilities is to approve families for the mission field, either here in Guatemala or in our ministry in Liberia, Africa. Normally, that is a part of the job that I love. I am energized when I see men and women step out of their comfort zones in order to follow Jesus and make disciples.
For us, the process includes the submission of paperwork, references, an interview, background checks, and a time of prayer to discern God’s will. As a part of the process, there is sometimes dialogue with those providing references, especially if they raise a concern. If someone close to the family expresses a hesitancy to see them go to the mission field, we want to hear more to determine if the concern is valid and prohibitive. Again, this process is usually enjoyable. But there are the other times.
The Sense of Urgency With International Missions (or lack thereof)
This week, for the second time in as many months I had a North American pastor tell me that they saw no reason for a couple to “rush to the mission field.” One of them actually said, “The mission field will still be there in a few years.” In both cases, they were referring to couples with records of spiritual maturity and faithful service. And, in both cases, the concerns were centered around the ages of the families’ children.
In the first case, the applying couple has children who are in high school and approaching graduation. Their pastor affirmed that they were spiritually mature and had a record of excellent service and integrity. He also stated that he had seen their passion for the mission field and believed God was calling them. But within their denomination, they have a policy of not approving families for the field when their move would disrupt their children at such a crucial time as late high school. So he would not recommend them for missions at this time. They should wait.
In the second case, the couple has two young children. Their pastor again stated that the mother and father had displayed spiritual maturity, service, and key skills needed for the field. She stated that she believed they were called to missions. But she felt that they needed to wait until their children were older. (But apparently not so old as to be in high school. I guess there is a sweet spot in which people with children can be cleared to go.)
And that was when I heard the line that, quite frankly, made me angry: “I don’t see a need for them to rush to the field. It will still be there in a few years.”
Really? You don’t see a need? How about the millions who will enter a Christ-less eternity while you hold them back?
Yes, it is true that, if the Lord does not return, Guatemala and Liberia will still be here, along with the countless other fields around the globe. But how many millions of souls will enter a Christ-less eternity over the next few years in those same places? Where is the urgency for the Gospel that Christ gave to the church? And when did we become worshipers of the false gods of comfort, security, and family?
International Missions and the Lack of Workers
Our ministry in both Guatemala and Liberia seeks to bring glory to Jesus Christ by caring for those with special needs and addressing the systemic issues that cause special needs. We do that through family-based group homes, rural village sponsorship programs that provide crucial resources to families with children who have disabilities, feeding and formula programs to address malnutrition, a nutrition center, birthing centers, medical clinics and more. And we are stretched thin. Here in Guatemala I am receiving lots of calls every week begging us to come and help or to receive children into one of our three homes. Last week, for example, I received calls from three different communities, asking us to expand our ministry to their region of the country. We also received calls asking our homes to receive 16 children. To each of these requests, I had to say “no” due to a lack of manpower and space. These calls involve children who are sick, suffering, and often dying. And each of these children represent families who need to hear the Gospel and see it in action. We need additional workers badly. The situation and desperate need is similar in Liberia.
But it is not just our organization. There are ministries around the world that are fighting for lives, both physical lives and spiritual ones, and many of them are overwhelmed and understaffed. There is a very real urgency to missions that those on the field experience daily.
Jesus himself spoke of the urgency. In Matthew 9 he told his disciples that “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
We see that plentiful harvest every day, and the lack of workers that allows people to die without Jesus. There is a huge urgency for missionaries around the globe, and millions are slipping into eternity while they wait. And we should be very hesitant to discourage others from responding to that need promptly. In so doing, we might find ourselves working against the very heart of God.
