Ministry Exploration
Since leaving China, I have wondered what was next for us. I still don't know. But my desire has always been to develop and strengthen servants for Christ's kingdom, to multiply laborers. While serving as development director for TEL, I received requests from many countries and laborers where we had no ministry, as well as places where we did have staff. TEL was too small, too few in number to meet all the requests even in places we did serve. But it got me thinking about ways I might be able to do more for Christ's kingdom. Then we went back to China, and the thought was shelved.
We're no longer serving in China, but we still have a heart for the world. If we're to remain in the United States, we still want to encourage and equip others to go to the field. But if even now we could personally impact other countries and build up others who are already laboring in God's harvest, we would gladly share what we have with them. So this idea has come back off the shelf.
Is this a ministry God would have us take on? Does He desire to use us to equip and strengthen national pastors and evangelists? We're willing to go wherever we could be of service. Given that the only other language I know is Chinese, I'm limited to places that speak English and Chinese. But English opens the door to many opportunities!
I was reminded at a recent missions conference that "it's never a convenient time to go." That's certainly the case with us. We're still paying off COVID debts. Our income is wholly committed to our living expenses. But we're still willing to go. So we're throwing out this "fleece." If God desires us to make a two-week trip to south Asia to serve some local friends there, we're willing to go. If not, we're fine with that too. In another year we could be debt-free and have income available to finance these trips on our own. We're in no rush. We just don't want to use funds as an excuse to hold back.
Please pray with us about this opportunity. If you feel led to help make this late-spring trip happen, you can give through the form above. If you give and we do not receive sufficient funds to go, we'll return your gift (less fees).
Thank you, as always, for standing with us. May God be glorified in all we do!