A few years ago I began sensing that God might be calling me to use my writing gifts in missions. I began Googling “writing opportunities and missions.” At first I didn’t find much, so I kind of brushed it aside. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it and wrestling with it.
A writing missionary?
I didn’t think missionaries had big enough budgets to hire writers.
Before I told anyone about writing in missions, I received a phone call from a friend. The first question out of her mouth was “how would you like to be a missionary for the Assemblies of God?” They need writers. I almost started to cry.
I don’t attend an Assembly of God church, so I began wondering if I was going to have to change churches? That didn’t feel right. I believe God brought me to Christian Fellowship (a nondenominational church) a couple of years ago for a reason and now I feel like it’s my home.
I started talking to the missions pastor at my church about writing in missions. He said it was definitely a need. Sometimes missionaries are doctors, pilots or engineers. But they don’t all have writing skills. But as they seek prayer and support from folks at home, they would welcome those who will be a voice for those in need and help share stories of how God is working through peoples’ lives.
As I continued Googling “writing in missions,” I found there is a great need from mission organizations from all denominations.
As I began exploring the various mission organizations, I also learned I would need to become a missionary myself and raise my own support.
I had a hard time wrapping my head around raising support or living in another country. I know there are plenty of opportunities to serve God right here in this country. And a monthly paycheck seems so safe, secure and dependable. But I’ve begun sensing that I’m not completely relying completely on God for my needs. I’m relying more on my employer and putting my trust in them to provide.
God continues to place people in my life who have raised their own support and I’ve heard great stories of Him providing above and beyond their expectations. A few weeks ago a friend of mine stayed with me. She’s without a permanent residence, doesn’t have a steady stream of income, but she is just as busy as ever helping people and volunteering in her church with a smile on her face. And as she trusts Him, He supplies her needs.
I am a person who likes to at least feel like I’m somewhat in control. So much of life is out of our control, but sadly that means I am not surrendering every area to the Lord.
As I continued to explore missions and writing more, I began experiencing pain in my wrist and forearm last year. It would come on at work and disappear after a good night’s sleep. It seemed clearly linked to spending 40 hours at a desk job hunched over at a computer. I’ve gone through many months of treatments. But nothing seemed to helped. It scared me to death, because I thought I might have to give up doing what I loved most: writing. I was so confused. I thought God had great plans for using my hands to write for the Kingdom. Now it seemed like they were failing.
But as I began to pray I sensed God telling me that He gave me two hands and a love for writing, and that He was not done with me yet.
But the pain remained a constant companion. So I prayed, “What’s next?”
I knew I needed to grow closer to God and deal with some of my issues such as fear and trust. Perhaps there was a way to do that while giving my wrists the rest they needed. I began praying about opportunities.
It was around that time that I began getting World Race emails in my inbox.
I had originally found out about the World Race in August 2017. I looked at their website and thought, “Wow, that looks like an amazing opportunity. But there is NO way I can do that.”
- 11 countries in 11 months? I’ve never even been out of the country.
- $19,000? I can’t raise that kind of money.
The questions and doubts piled up.
Fortunately, despite my doubts, I signed up for the emails. The emails stopped for a while or I ignored them. And then suddenly there was a flurry of them in my inbox.
Again the fears and doubts piled up.
But God reminded me of a time when I stepped forward in faith, even when I was still a bit afraid. I’m so glad I did.
Before I began freelancing for various ministries, I struggled with a fear of inadequacy and doubt in my writing abilities.
Why would God trust me to tell His stories?
Wasn’t there someone more suitable for that?
Someone more spiritual?
But I knew in my heart that I loved hearing God stories and would love putting them on paper. Who doesn’t love a good God story? So it made me sad thinking of fear winning. I couldn’t let that happen again.
The Assemblies of God began giving me some freelance assignments. As part of my first assignment, I had to interview a young couple that had just lost twin babies at birth and learn from them how God and the church helped them through their journey.
It was Christmastime.
How was I going to interview them? How could I be sensitive to them during this time when I felt like a snoopy journalist prying into their private lives.
I wanted to give the assignment back to the editor and tell him I had made a mistake. There was no way I could write that article. But that made me so sad to think about.
God reminded me of what it felt like to go through the grieving process. My aunt had just died that Christmas.
So I called the couple and I interviewed them. The local newspaper had interviewed them so they had done this before. They were so kind and willing to answer all my questions. This assignment led to many more assignments – most of which were way easier to tackle.
So I applied for the World Race. What did I have to lose? Grow closer to God. Share the love of Christ with others. Get out of my comfort zone.
Soon after I met a couple who had gone on the World Race as single individuals. They talked about their year of transformation without all of their normal worldly distractions.
I have fears and doubts. I have no idea how I’m going to get where I need to go. But I know God is by my side and that makes me feel pretty good!
First step: Click the “What is the World Race link on the right hand side to learn more.”
