so this last week (dec 27-31 to be exact) i had the privilege of attending the story’08 missions conference hosted by pioneers (a mission sending organization that focuses on unreached people groups around the world). seeing that the theme was “story,” many missionaries came in from off the field to share snippets of what God is doing in their ministries and in their lives and in the lives of people they’re working with. because of some security issues, i can’t share complete details or names, but here are a few of the stories i heard that encouraged me.
here’s the story of angie, who works in southeast asia. while working in her city, she and her teammates noticed a lot of pink lights in windows and eventually found out that all of those pink lights signified places where brothels were located. they have since started working with prostitutes, are starting a jewelry business, and are praying that God will bring women out of the brothels to the “hospitality apartment” he has provided for them.
or consider the story of a pastor in northern africa who walks about 25 miles every day in order to preach and speak with people about Jesus. he would love some form of transportation to better reach these people, but as of right now he has nothing but his feet. so he walks, day in and day out, to bring the message of the gospel, the message of hope, to the people of his impoverished country.
how about tami, who worked in central asia and met a little girl who needed major reconstructive surgery on her face, took this little girl home to colorado for surgery, and ended up adopting her only by the grace of God. she’s currently advocating (from her home in colorado) for children at risk, children like her now 6-year-old daughter, who would have simply been rejected or cast out from society, in order to live out proverbs 31:8, which says “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of those who are destitute.”
or how about wendy, a girl from eastern asia who came to the states to learn english and ended up learning a whole lot more. a friend introduced her to the gospel, and now she is a dear sister who wants to go back to her country and tell her family and friends there about God. her story, and many others, reminded me that if we can’t go “out” to the nations, God will bring the nations to us!
i have so many more stories of what God is doing worldwide, and as i process things i learned at the conference i’ll have many more of my own stories to share. so right now, as i think about what God’s teaching me, i’d love to hear your stories. i want to know what God is doing in your lives, what he’s doing around the world, what he’s teaching you, my brothers and sisters. what’s your story?
