Recently our church commissioned the W*****'s as missionaries to northern Togo and at the beginning of August, we’ll be commissioning the P*****'s to southern Togo.
The W*****'s are doing construction and hospitality missions at the Hospital of Hope. It will be through carpentry and guest house management that they will be involved in making disciples.
The P*****'s will be doing medical and maintenance missions at the Hộpital Baptiste Biblique. For them, it will be through respiratory therapy and general maintenance work that they will share the gospel with the Togolese people.
When you hear the word “missionary”, you may not think of carpentry or respiratory therapy in the same category. But if that’s true, something needs to change.
Not all missionaries are pastors or preachers. Even Paul himself, who was sent out from Antioch as a missionary, was a skilled tent-maker.
The reality is, in many countries in our world today, it is only through these trades and professional skills that we are able to send our people to these places at all. And in a post-COVID world, this reality will only increase.
We are seeing already countries kicking missionaries out or refusing visas because in their eyes, they are bringing no value to them. We know, of course, they are bringing the greatest news this world could ever hear – which will change their lives for all eternity! But they don’t know that, yet.
So why am I sharing this with you today?
Because the need in our world is greater than ever.
Jesus said the fields are ripe for harvest but the workers are few, so pray the Lord of the harvest will send out more workers. Could you be one of those workers we’ve been praying for?
We know not everyone is called to go out as a missionary and serve cross-culturally. But some are.
And perhaps you’re a teacher, a farmer, an electrician, a nurse, an IT professional, or a media specialist but you’ve never realized until now that those are skills desperately needed on the mission field. Well, I'm glad you now know! :) There are even agencies built around helping retirees find their place in the mission field!
Check out this list put out by one of our missions partners on 7 Missions Jobs You Haven't Heard Of. The article quotes one missionary who said, “I get to do what I enjoy doing every day. Sometimes I feel like a fraud because I don’t fit the old missionary mold.”
Perhaps as you’re reading this, the Holy Spirit is nudging you to pursue using your God-given skills, time and expertise cross-culturally to serve Him as a missionary. If that’s you, don’t wait on it. Talk to us today and let us pray alongside you for the Lord’s direction in your life.
This is a bold prayer but let me encourage you to pray this today:
“God, if you want to use the skills you’ve given me
to serve you cross-culturally as a missionary,
wherever you send me I will go!”
Will you pray that prayer?
I hope you will.
- Mark
