THE MISSIONARY
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Thus begins description of the first anointing and sending forth of Missionaries into other countries. The Church had heard the
commission which had been given to them by the Lord prior to His ascension into the heavens as recorded in Acts 1:8: But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The first steps in following through on that commission had been accomplished. They had established the Church in Jerusalem, and soon reached out to the surrounding territories of Judea and Samaria. Now the next step must follow in order to fulfill this command: “The uttermost part of the earth.”
The Island country of Cyprus would soon have the Church established there. And then on into the then known world the Apostolic Truth would be proclaimed by these brave anointed messengers of God that we call Missionaries.
There is something unique about a Missionary. Their calling is unique. Only a chosen few feel this unique calling to go to some
foreign country and minister the Word of God to a people with another language and strange and different customs. This is why their number is small. That is why people are not lining up to accept the challenge to leave the comforts of America and venture into such an environment. This calling is not for the weak and hesitant. This is not for those who are looking for an extended vacation to another country that you can talk about and share pictures of with your grandchildren when you “retire.”
It is not fair to judge the accomplishments of any Missionary by comparing their report with another Missionaries report. Just as
it is not fair to judge any pastor here with what another pastor and church is accomplishing. Each country is unique and the people of each country are different. We may hear reports coming from some area with hundreds being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost, while at the same time hear another Missionary reporting from the area of his labor that only reports of a few being baptized. Until we have visited that area and witnessed for ourselves the conditions under which each Missionary must labor, let us not jump to conclusions, nor become judgmental about which Missionary is doing the best job and worthy of our support.
Every Missionary who has committed himself to fulfill the calling he feels burning in his heart to go to some foreign country
with the Gospel deserves our prayerful and financial support.
Surely God has some special recognition that He will bestow upon these brave souls who make such a commitment to carry the Apostolic Message to some foreign country. It is touching to me to hear some Missionary state that he intends to live in the country that God called him to until he dies. And to go one step further, to be buried among the people to whom he has
taught this glorious truth.
Yes, the Missionary is indeed a unique person.
Support them and you will be blessed.
TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
B Walls
