“Are you going to officially quit your job and move overseas to be a full-time missionary?”
Since I have been back in the States from the World Race, I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked this particular question.
My answer:
“I don’t quite understand your question. I am always a full-time missionary, regardless of where I am living and what I am doing.”
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My heart is heavy.
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As Christians, we seem to have lost the meaning and purpose of our life as believers in Christ. We seem to have come to think and believe that only those who leave their “homes” are the ones that have the calling to go and spread the Good News. We seem to have lost our desire to fulfill the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19-20 reads, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Before leaving the earth after His resurrection, Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. For some reason, many of the people that I have talked to in America think that that means we can only make disciples when we physically go to other nations – but for some reason we can’t do this in our very own nation. Or, we have gotten so used to hearing who Jesus Christ is, that we don’t think it’s necessary to share the Good News with those around us – because chances are, they have already heard about Him.
But what if God is calling you in this moment to be present and fulfill the Great Commission exactly where you are? What if there is so much need, so much Love that needs to be shared exactly right where you are, in a nation that is known to be founded on God but where the roads seem to be only getting wider?
“…the narrow road leads to life… and only few find it.”
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There also seems to be confusion on what a disciple is. Some think that when they witness people give their lives to the Lord that this is making disciples, but from what I read the passage says to “make disciples” not to “make converts” (even though, yes, this is the ‘first’ step).
A convert is someone who changes beliefs. But once the change occurs, what happens next? Once someone chooses to follow Jesus, what happens after that? A disciple is defined as a personal follower of Jesus; someone who moves behind someone or something. A “follower” — this is a noun that implies a longer length of time, not only a short moment that eventually ceases to exist. I believe Jesus is calling us to share about Him to others but it does not stop there. Rather, continuing to spend time with each other and investing in a life that is pleasing to the Father.
Think about the 12 disciples of Jesus we read about it the Gospels. Jesus discipled them for three years. They did not simply receive Jesus as their Savior and move on from being in each other’s lives — Jesus continued to uplift, encourage, and disciple them during His time with them. Then He left them saying to go and do likewise.
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So, I challenge you to think about that. You don’t have to agree with what I am writing, but I am asking you “what do you believe?”
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Go and make disciples. Disciples.
Not converts.
This takes time. This takes investment. This takes sacrifice. This takes devotion.
I am not saying that it is not necessary to move to another country to make disciples – I believe God calls each person to his/her own path and it is our responsibility to seek Him above all else and He will reveal where we need to be in His timing.
But what I am saying is that just because you aren’t in another country, nation, or continent does not excuse you from ignoring the commandment Jesus gave known as the Great Commission.
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Coming back home has been quite an interesting season of my life and still is. Most of the time World Racers come back to the States and are known to get burnt out, to shut down, and just wish they were back out on the field – and not being present in their new season.
It has definitely been a challenge in multiple ways and ways I didn’t expect, and the only way I have been able to get through it has been spending time with the Father and reminding myself of who I am in Him – and constantly reading His Word filled with His promises.
Despite the challenges, I don’t think I have ever desired wanting to burn for Him more than I do now.
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At the end of the Great Commission, Jesus leaves us with “…and behold I am with You always, to the end of the age.”
What a beautiful, loving Savior. He will never leave you.
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As far as for the question of what’s ‘next’ for me — all I know is “above all else seek His kingdom first and all these things will be added unto you”… my focus is to be present, and as the Lord wills — I go where He goes.
Soli Deo Gloria
