Now here is an interesting question for believers. Does this command given by Jesus really mean "all the world" or are their limits on where we are to go? For example, must it be overseas? Or must our ministry be limited to just a Christian organization? Could one share the gospel in a secular place, maybe even in this country? Should we support those called to share the gospel in a mission field in secular America rather than in the traditional third world countries where folks live in poverty? Have you ever thought about these questions? Has this influenced your giving and prayer support? Now I imagine that most believers would answer that it means all the world, but in practice they feel that it means overseas. Traditionally I think we have just thought of missionaries as those who left this country to minister elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately, to many it certainly doesn't include being a missionary in the United States. Let me give a few examples to help make my point.
Early in my teaching career the Lord closed some doors for us when I considered going overseas to teach in a Christian high school. Instead the Lord called me to be a missionary in the public schools of this country. And He gave me a 39 year ministry as a teacher and administrator in the Penn Manor School District. There he allowed me to lead a Bible Club, the Berean Club, for most of those years. Sometimes we had as many as 70 students attending this club, on school time.
The Lord also allowed me to develop a community, student-led Baccalaureate Service when the school dropped their program. After a decade this grew to several hundred folks who attended this annual program with about two-thirds of the graduating class attending and participating. Since it was not sponsored by the district, we held it in the largest church in our district which gladly gave us their building to use. I give the Lord all the credit for this as well as for the many opportunities I had to express my faith over the years.
Now back to my main point. Over the years I encountered much criticism from believers who felt that I was not in the Lord's will because I was working in a public school and not a Christian school. Probably if I had gone overseas to teach as a missionary they would have accepted my call. But many could not accept me as a missionary to one of the biggest and most important mission fields anywhere - our public schools. I have a real burden for young bright Christians who feel called to teach in our public schools. I know they can have a great influence there, living a godly life in an ungodly environment.
Here's another example. I have known several missionaries who have had major problems raising their support if their place of ministry was in the United States. And that is so difficult because it cost so much more to live and minister in the United States than it does in many countries overseas. Do people really see the need in what used to be Christian America as being less relevant than the need in other places in the world? Do our churches see the need to support those who labor in the many places of great need in this country? Personally, I don't really think that in many cases that they do. Maybe they do in word but not always in action.
Ministering in the United States can be much more expensive than ministering in many foreign countries. Our cost of living is much higher than many, but not all, other countries. A missionary here has many of the same needs that we have, such as housing, food and transportation, and yet often with much less support provided. And, unfortunately, the same can be said about the way many churches financially support their pastors. Too many people expect much, but give little to support them.
My oldest granddaughter has been called to minister on a college campus with DiscipleMakers. There aren't too many places that are more in need today than a college campus. She has already experienced this ministry by serving as an intern for a summer at Penn State. But she has run into difficulty raising her support and is only at 48% of what is required. And part of the problem is that many folks don't see this as a real missionary effort, especially since it isn't overseas. Really? How narrow minded. Now I believe that if the Lord wants her serving Him in this way that He will somehow provide her support. But how much easier it would be if more Christians would see this need and join her team. But would it be easier to raise the support if she went to the jungles of Africa or to the wilds of South America? Maybe more would join her team if she would plan to live in a jungle hut rather than in an apartment in a college town. I don't know, but I suspect that it might.
So in conclusion, how about evaluating your thoughts and actions concerning missionaries. Help me pray for sharp Christians to be called to serve in the public schools of this country where they can have a real impact for the Lord. And help me pray for folks, such as my granddaughter, who are struggling to raise support to serve in vital mission fields, even if their mission field is in this country.
Remember, "go ye into all the world", and don't forget that the world, believe it or not, includes the United States. People everywhere need the gospel.
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