Growing up, *Hannah “had the idea that being a missionary was some sort of special calling.”
She felt that life as a missionary was reserved for extraordinary Christians and certainly not for someone ordinary like herself.
Like many Christians today, she was familiar with the Great Commission, but still believed someone else was more qualified to heed that call.
That was until everything changed in her sophomore year of college.
It was then she learned that, if we claim to follow Christ, “then by definition we are all missionaries.”
Every person who claims the name of Christ is a missionary.
She began to realize that she, like all believers, “had a role to play in making Christ known.”
She even knew she had a calling to go overseas but “kept suppressing it out of fear.”
When her college pastor preached over singleness, he challenged all the students to use their freedom of not being tied down to something (a full time job, spouse, etc.) to serve the Lord overseas.
She signed up for the next overseas mission trip and hasn’t looked back since.
Hannah* has been to several different countries for missions, but none has captured her heart as much as East Asia. She says the reason she believes East Asia captured her heart the most was “simply because God wanted it to.”
After this past summer, Hannah* decided to go back and live in East Asia for a year. She knew it wouldn’t be easy because the church had been going through even more persecution than before.
Nevertheless, she didn’t relent on her decision. If anything, that only fueled her decision because she knew how much the country needed Jesus.
Hannah* leaves for Asia this December 2019, and it will be one of the biggest life changes she’s ever had to make.
She’s leaving so much behind – her friends, family, and a community that she’s grown close to over the last four-and-a-half years.
A lot of changes are happening in the lives of her family and friends, and while she may have a tough time knowing she’s missing out on it, she can trust the Lord and know that she will be where He wants her.
However, one concern Hannah has is finding a new community on the other side of the world since no friends are going with her.
She will have some people that she knows overseas with her, but the dynamic will still be very different.
Hannah has been praying about this for a long time, and there is not a doubt in her heart that this is where she needs to be, regardless of how difficult it becomes.
She knows the Lord’s plan will prevail. He is sovereign, and she takes comfort in that fact.
As she prepares to go overseas, she asks that people would pray.
Pray for the people of East Asia. Pray that the Lord would soften their hearts even in the midst of potential persecution. Pray that her mission would not be in vain or come back void.
She also asks that people would be challenged to step out of their comfort zones and walk away from their current lives to serve the Lord whole-heartedly.
Perhaps that means going overseas or maybe it’s just ministering next door.
So will you pray that if God is asking you to go today, that you will answer and be obedient to His will for your life?
*Name changed for protection of missionaries in East Asia
(h/t Christian Life Daily)