Missionariesby Sister Doretha Hall

We sing a song with these lyrics: Listen to the call, the Gospel call today... but the missionary marches to the beat of a different drummer... They have not only listened to the Gospel call, but they risk and forsake everything to carry out the Great Commission "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). They also fulfill the scripture, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

In some countries, the missionaries are not strangers to terrorism. While we lay down to sleep in a quiet neighborhood, well kept homes, safety in tow, where the silence is occasionally broken only by the sound of a siren, the missionary may be kept awake all night to the serenade of gunfire, sirens, screams, and the smell of smoke. In Columbia, some have lost their lives, and others have had to give up their ministries, yet the call is ever so strong: I MUST REACH ONE MORE, AND ONE MORE... FOR THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

After all, they are missionaries. They left the comfort of home, most often the USA to go to a third world country where people don’t always get along but most do not know Jesus Christ. In some cases, the missionaries not only have to learn new languages, but customs as well. Did they ask for this kind of life?

On September 28th, 2000, Mr. Sharon wanted to visit a Holy Place. A fight erupted which escalated into a war. Jerusalem, Israel is now a war torn land. We here in America, even with the events of September 11th and the threat of anthrax, still live in a relatively safe country. There are many in other countries who go to sleep at night to the sound of rifles being fired into apartments where people are cowered in corners or lying flat on the floor, praying that they can survive yet one more day. Will they be the ONE MORE SOUL reached by a missionary to learn about Jesus before he returns?

What can we really say about the missionaries, except they are the epitome of the word sacrifice. Next to the Lord Jesus who gave his very life for the whole world, the missionaries are risking their very lives for the eternal life of others. This is a most notable honor.
Missionaries accept a very special calling into the ministry. Their faith must surpass the norm, and their commitment and consecration is unquestionably the best. Our support seems to be the least we should do. Support does not always mean money, although it does help.
They need our prayers for protection from the forces of evil, prayers of support for their spiritual well being, mental and physical strength and perseverance through every situation. They need the spirit of the Lord to rest upon each of them including their families. They need the wisdom of God as well as understanding. They also need the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord (see Isaiah 11:2). These are the spiritual attributes that were given to the Lord Jesus Christ so that he would know how to deal with all situations that presented themselves during his ministry.

There are foreign missionaries and there are missionaries right here in our country. Whether we realize it or not, we have all been commissioned to be missionaries of the Gospel. There are many here in this country that truly do not know the Lord Jesus or, have known him and walked away. We are their missionaries. Our calling is no less significant than those who travel to other countries. We too have a desire to reach ONE MORE & ONE MORE... the difference (which could change to become like the foreign missionaries, we never know) we have not given up everything, and by that, I mean all of our worldly possessions.

Christ Memorial Temple has supported missionaries (both, evangelists and other works) for several years and we continue to support them through prayers and finances. We share with the missionaries the call to reach the Whole World with the Whole Gospel.

The missionary seeks not the success of the world, but only to be successful in the winning of souls to the kingdom of God. So, when you lay down at night to go to sleep, say a special prayer for the missionaries and their families. Heaven is waiting to hear...