[Sister Alvear]

C.T. Studd, missionary to the Congo, presented this parable:
"Remember the miller's donkey . . . the miller, his son and donkey went to the market. The miller rode the donkey all the way and people exclaimed, 'Cruel man, riding himself and making his son walk.' So he got down and his son rode; then people slanged, 'What a lazy son for riding while his poor old father walks.' Then both father and son rode, and people then said, 'Cruelty to animals, poor donkey.' So they got down and carried the donkey on a pole, but folks said, 'Here are two asses carrying another ass.' Then all three walked and people said, 'What fools to have a donkey and not ride it.' So let's go ahead with our work for God and not care what folks say."

Of course, those who endeavour to submit to Bible college or theological training and apply to join a mission will be told by well meaning relatives and friends that they are wasting their lives. Nate Saint's response to this should be our own:
"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives . . . and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."

David Brainerd, the 18th century missionary to North American Indians, declared:
"As long as I see anything to be done for God, life is worth living; but O, how vain and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!"
Many reading these testimonies may feel inadequate to follow in the footsteps of such pioneers. It is worth remembering that none of them felt either worthy or capable in and of themselves. However, they were willing to learn and they trusted in God's power, not their own.

Gladys Aylward, missionary to China, expressed her view in this way:
"I wasn't God's first choice for what I've done for China . . . I don't know who it was . . . It must have been a man . . . a well-educated man. I don't know what happened. Perhaps he wasn't willing . . . And God looked down . . . and saw Gladys Aylward . . . And God said - 'Well, she's willing!'"

Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China, issued the following challenge:
"I believe that (in) each generation God has 'called' enough men and women to evangelise all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. . . . everywhere I go, I constantly meet with men and women who say to me, 'When I was young I wanted to be a missionary, but I got married instead.' Or, 'My parents dissuaded me,' or some such thing. No, it is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond."

Which raised the point: Over 80% of all missionaries today are women. Where are all the men? What kind of army sends its women into the frontline of battle? Financial considerations, family responsibilities and career demands no doubt play a major role in pre-occupying men, and their personal involvement in fulfilling the Great Commission seems to be "Mission Impossible"!

However, this need not be so. If our congregations would truly make missions a priority then the financial constraints that hold back so many eager volunteers would be swept away. Less than 10% of Evangelical churches have any missions programme at all. Less than 1% of total church income is spent on foreign missions! If churches would set aside at least 10% of their budget to support missionaries, and especially those sent out from their own congregation, then literally thousands more volunteers could be mobilised.

It is a sad commentary on the average congregation that more is spent on carpets, heaters and parking lots than they allocate for fulfilling the Great Commission.

There are so very many ways to serve the Lord in missions today: Bible translations, radio broadcasts, medical work, church planting, literature evangelism, education, administration and so on.

We need teachers and technicians, preachers and printers, computer programmers and church planters, artists and artisans, Bible teachers and brick layers, and many more.

You will not need to worry about "an opening" - there are thousands of kilometres of opening and you can take your choice as to where you will establish yourself.


(taken from Frontline fellowship)