by Jeffrey Bush
Sometime back my missionary friend reminded me of an obvious yet forgotten fact: the population is larger than it’s ever been, yet there are far fewer missionaries than in past generations. I chewed on it for the next few weeks, and it bothered me. I want to offer very specifically to my missionary friends how we can do something about the great need and few laborers. Below are areas of consideration if we are proactively to pick up the mantle of responsibility and see more laborers:
- Our Preaching
A pastor has the responsibility to feed his sheep, but a missionary gets one introduction and one opportunity to challenge people in church. There are so many wonderful things to preach on, but as a missionary, you must realize God has sent you to a church (whether deputation or furlough) to inform and ignite a burden within these fellow believers. You don’t get to return next week to follow up, so be intentional with your visit to show the need and ask prayer for more laborers. The church knows your need of support, the pastor has you visiting for that specific purpose, but God might have an individual in the congregation that needs that invitation/challenge to go.
One book I read said that, after talking to a large gathering of retired and senior missionaries, he asked them what age they felt the call of God to become a missionary. The typical age was eight years old! My wife, Mindy, surrendered when she was around eight years old. Where do you think these young people saw missions? When missionaries came by and visited their church. Please do not neglect to preach with a passion in your heart to see future laborers raised up.
- Our Children
Not every missionary kid will grow up to be a missionary, but we cannot deny the fact that it is more probable for an MK to have the desire, knowledge, and leading of God to be a future missionary. MK’s grow up helping their parents in ministry at a very young age. They most likely speak more than one language and know more than one culture. Their hearts are most likely more sensitive to the Lord, His work, and the global need for the Gospel. While a parent should never force ministry upon their children, they would be wise to pray and speak to their children about serving God as a missionary. Children love and look up to their parents, and it is very likely that God wants you as parents to help these little disciples as He might lead them to be future missionaries.
- Our Prayers
We are all very aware of the obvious truth that “we have not because we ask not.” (James 4:2). Are we asking and believing God will raise up future missionaries? When Jesus mentioned the great need and lack of laborers, He stated that we should start with praying to the Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). When we pray, it seems to open our heart about the need, our eyes to look around and consider, and cause us to depend on God to separate out future laborers.
- Our Emphasis
You can only focus on so much. When you get the opportunity to converse with others on the road, you can must be specific about what you discuss. Nothing wrong with working out, playing sports, enjoying a movie, reading good books, and enjoying some good food, but make your emphasis about God’s work. What do your social media posts reveal about you? What is the underlying message in your prayer letters? You and others know what your emphasis is by what you spend your time on, what you talk about, what you love, and where your money is. Your words, actions, posts, texts, and conversations should reveal your emphasis.
