The phrase from a familiar hymn, “If I should die on a foreign field someday,” is no idle lyric to the many missionaries today who brave taking the Gospel to a troubled world, great distances from the relative safety of their home countries. The blessings most of us take for granted, not the least of which include becoming a Christian (Acts 11:26) and worshipping “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), are worth risking one’s life to accomplish, and yes, dying for if necessary. Christianity is that important—eternally important, on a personal level.
Christianity is not only important to new recipients of the Gospel message, but it is more important to those who already comprise the church than they may really know. Jesus wasn’t kidding around when He left his disciples (of whom we profess to be) the one job to do of taking the Gospel to the entire world (Mark 16:15-16).
Those who are not personally going abroad ought to be more than happy to send those who are willing to go into a hostile world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s high time that the Lord’s church concern itself a little less with creature comforts and get back to the lone assignment Jesus left for us to do.
Of course, not everyone can take the Gospel across the globe personally. However, Bonnie and I leave for Bangalore and New Delhi, India as well as Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) on October 14; we will return to the States November 15. Just a matter of several days before our departure and we are $4,000 short of collecting the funds necessary to cover the expenses we have incurred for this mission trip. We respectfully and humbly request member’s of the Lord’s church who may be reading this to approach their respective congregations and ask them to please send a financial gift to help us. Checks may be made out to Vermilion Church of Christ and sent to 5116 Driftwood Dr., Vermilion, OH 44089. We covet your prayers.
