Ordinary Missionaries

When you think about long-term missionaries, you may think about people who are living on the ends of the Earth, partnering with a church or ministry to go and make disciples.  However, let me stretch your scope just a little.  Couldn’t this title also apply to people who, while they may not be on an “official” missions opportunity, have followed God’s lead to where they live, where they work, and to do whatever He asks?  I think so.

That brings me to two couples: one who are newlyweds living in one of, if not THE, most remote places in the United States.  Another are following God’s lead to graduate school, as well as the call they both have to end injustice.  What they are and will be doing is changing the world and furthering the Kingdom of God forever.  These are ordinary missionaries doing extraordinary things.

Caleb and Allison
Imagine God laying on your heart a remote part of Alaska with a population near 4,000, an extremely high suicide rate, long periods of night sky, where a gallon of milk is six dollars, and the feeling that you will one day live there.  Then, imagine your fiancée, to whom you don’t want to admit God has laid all this on your heart, telling you he’s feeling the same way and has applied for a job there.  In short, that’s the story of Allison and Caleb.  After taking a trip to Kotzebue, Alaska for school, Allison knew she’d be back one day.  What came from this was an amazing testimony to obeying God.  Today, Allison is in Kotzebue working in the career she went to school for.  She’s now been married over a month to Caleb, who first moved to Kotzebue in February after starting the job he applied for.  They are both active parts of the church they attend, and are living lives for Christ on display for others to see.  One can only praise God and expect how much of an impact Kotzebue will have because of Caleb and Allison being there.  They have truthfully followed Him.

Patrick and Charity
Their story was shared from the stage of their church to the congregation at the end of each of August 1 worship services.  These two leaders, the recently engaged Patrick and Charity, both have an adventure ahead of them that doesn’t stop with their December wedding.  With worship and justice on their hearts, they are making the move to Colorado to attend the University of Denver.  Patrick is going for his international business degree (IMBA).  Charity is going for a degree in International Disaster Psychology.  With his degree, Patrick wants to form a for-profit company that gives back to a world in need (think TOMS shoes, for example).  Charity’s degree gets her ready to meet the needs of disaster victims head-on–be it natural disasters (flood, tsunami, earthquake, drought, etc.), manmade disasters (war, terror, torture, human trafficking, etc.), or an epidemic, such as AIDS.  Both are passionate about ending human trafficking.  They also want to continue doing ministry and leading worship, traveling along the way.  Patrick and Charity are an amazing team who want to answer the very call God has placed on their lives.

In sharing the stories of these people I know, I think about how nothing is impossible with God.  I also think about how following Him can take any of us to places we never imagined going.  We’re never alone.   God equips us with His Holy Spirit, and with others to take part in life with.  When He asks us to follow Jesus Christ, He asks us to trust in Him, obey Him, and seek the way He wants us to go.  This is an open invitation to anyone.  Ordinary people like Caleb and Allison.  Ordinary people like Patrick and Charity.  Ordinary people like you and me.

What are you going to make happen with this extraordinary God?  He will direct your every path.  Where you live, where you work, where you go to school, and every part of you that makes up the rest of your life are things He has a plan for.  The life of a Christ follower is the life of a missionary.  There is no separation.  Live on mission for Jesus Christ.  Accept the extraordinary gift of being an ordinary missionary.