Speaker from Encounter....

I mentioned in a previous post that Caleb and I are good friend with the speaker and his wife that went to Encounter.  Here is a picture of me visiting Kelley who now lives in Goroka (about 2 hours away from Ukarumpa).

 

They serve with a different mission than we do.  But, we are all here in PNG working together to bring the gospel to those who do not have it.  They have a monthly newsletter that they send out.  There was an article recently in it called “Don’t Complicate the ‘Missionary Call’”.  This article is from David Sitton, founder and president of To Every Tribe.  It was written for the 2011 Desiring God Conference.

 

I really like what it has to say:

 

“I was never called to be a missionary, nor was I drafted. I volunteered. No special call was needed. I chose to go; I wanted to go; I was compelled to go. And where I go is always determined by an open Bible and a stretched-out map of the regions where Christ is still unknown and un-praised! I chuckle when I hear missionaries and pastors talk about “surrendering to the call” of ministry. I always want to ask, “After you surrendered, were you waterboarded,or just hauled off in handcuffs and leg irons.” Was it really necessary for you to be abducted by a heavenly vision before you would go into the work of the gospel?

 

The missionary call is not like a prison dog that tracks us down, sniffs us out, and hog-ties us for the nations. That is silly-talk and really bad theology. Nowhere in Scripture is a mysterious (supernatural) call a prerequisite before we can respond to the Great Commission. The opposite is actually true. No aspect of mission is more bogged down with extra-biblical baggage than the “missionary call.” The clear command of Christ “to go” should be, by itself, sufficient to set you on your way “into all the world. . .proclaiming the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). You can’t go wrong by trying to go. Trust the Lord to direct your moving feet. If you are convinced of your “call” to “stay”, this will only serve as added confirmation that you are right. Don’t fear the risk of ending up some place the Lord doesn’t want you. Too many already took that “risk” when they assumed a stateside ministry or vocation with no confirmation other than their own desires. Dramatic calls to ministry are the exception. If you have it

in your heart to go, then go. Then, lean on the sovereignty of God to get you where he wants you in the harvest. Don’t worry about “running ahead of God.” You aren’t that quick!”

 

I just like how this is worded.  I would also challenge you to think about it and consider a life like this….