Earlier
in my life, when presented with the idea of making disciples in another
country, I would have the standard rebuttal: "That's for special 'called'
people, they'll go," "There's plenty to do here," "My
family would be grieved," and "God is sovereign, so He'll get it done
one way or another."
*Caveat #1: These aren't necessarily untrue or invalid statements, but they can sometimes be used as excuses.
*Caveat #2: Not all believers should go,
but all believers should play a part in making disciples where
they are and of all nations.
I've often said that the turning point that I look back on was the switch from asking, "Why me?" to "Why not me?"
Therefore, I found my fellow SIM pre-field missionary's prayer letter especially meaningful. Similarly, instead of asking, "Why go?" Elizabeth asks, "Why stay?" Her motivation for going to Guinea matches mine for Uruguay: a concern for the unreached - those who know nothing about Jesus.
Jesus said that the harvest is out there, we just need more willing workers (Matt. 9:37). Yeah God's sovereign (so we're fighting a winning battle), but He chooses to use the willingness of His people to carry out His will. Those who are called to be His people are those who call on the name of the Lord (1 Cor. 1:2). Paul's logic is clear in his questions: How will people call on the name of the Lord if they don't believe? How will they believe if they don't hear? How will they hear if no one tells them? How will anyone tell them if no one is sent? (Rom. 10:13-15).
This changed my perspective and my questions. This is also fuel for Elizabeth, other SIMers and many other believers. I've shared Elizabeth's words below.
Click here to see her full prayer letter: Hargis Happenings: Why Stay?
Hargis Happenings
Serving through youth outreach and discipleship in Guinea
December 2016
Why stay?
I can give you two primary reasons in the midst of many other smaller ones. First, I am going to Guinea because it is in an unreached area of the world; the vast majority of the people living in Guinea have never heard the name of Jesus. They live and die every day without knowing the Gospel, the one thing that is needed for salvation, and not only do people not know the Gospel, but many do not even have access to it or know someone who does.
While the need for the Gospel in Guinea is undoubtedly a reason to go there, it pales in comparison to the second and greater reason. It is said throughout Scripture, but Jesus said it succinctly in Matthew 28: all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, and out of that authority, he commanded us, as Christians, to take the Gospel into all the world so people from all nations would become his disciples. He was sending them (and us) out on the mission to make his matchless name known among all people so that they would know of the redemption his life, death, and resurrection had brought to them.
That's why I'm planning to spend at least three years of my life in a place that most people don't think about. People are lost and need to know the salvation that Jesus has brought, and Jesus has commanded us to go to them so that all of his creation may bring glory to his name. Instead of asking, "Why go?" I can now only ask, "Why stay?"
Serving Him Together,
Elizabeth
