“In the end, it comes down to a matter of faith and trust in the goodness of God”

Before I was blessed to depart for my mission back to Asia a few seasons ago, one of my benefactors shared with me that he wasn't sure he would continue supporting our missionary work because, like so many others before him, he felt that I was throwing my life away. Hearing this really hurt, but through prayer led to this reflection on what it means to truly trust in Christ and offer yourself more fully to God's call.

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"You could be going to Harvard or making tons of money, have a nice home, car, whatever you want, and be set for life... why do you keep doing this missionary stuff with no financial security? You can't be living on handouts the rest of your life..."

How do I respond with the value of a human soul?

What would holding off on the latest upgrade to your SUV, staying with a smaller screen TV, or not buying a 2nd vacation home mean, if it could lead to more people coming to Christ? What would it mean to take time away from your high-powered job to use your talents to support causes that often only get the scraps of what's left? Or truly tithing a significant part of your income to support those who minister full-time to further God's purpose in the world?

What if everyone did that? How much closer to God would we become if we better understood where our gifts truly come from and how God is asking us to trust Him in the proper use and giving of the gifts and treasures He has so generously bestowed upon us.

To the early Christians, this was clear (2 Corinthians 9:6-8), and the benefits would last into eternal life.

To my friends who have wondered or even spoken to me about putting my missionary calling aside to work towards a financially secure future, I know it comes from a place of caring and concern. But would you be so quick to ask this of a pastor, priest or religious? Perhaps not, as their work is far more visible and they have the security of their religious congregations, churches, and dioceses to support them. Should there then be no missionaries if they're not fully sponsored with benefits and retirement by the Church? Is there no room for the layperson with the vocation of missionary?  Or should we even bother pursuing any good endeavor in life if there is not a hope of financial security involved? Almost like St. Augustine's "O Lord, make me give and sacrifice, but not yet! (Let me financially establish myself for a decade or two first and set up a good 401k.)"  Yet if we truly trust Christ and His call, maintain a healthy prayer life, continue to study the teaching of the Church, have a solid spiritual director, and continue to discern well God's ongoing call, then should we not trust that God will not lead His faithful servant to ruin?

In the end, it comes down to a matter of faith and trust in the goodness of God's properly discerned call in our lives; though God will (oh, so very often) try your faith and perseverance, there is the faith-held assurance that He will provide, through an abundance of grace and blessings, all that you need to serve well in accordance with His purpose.

Yet to respond to God's call for any of us, requires not just faith in the goodness of God's call and the grace of perseverance, but a deep love of God that will open us up to a willingness to deny, to sacrifice ourselves for God and the good of the other. Indeed, Jesus could not have been more clear when He said to His disciples: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me... What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" Matthew 16:24-26

Do we truly believe in what Christ is saying here? Do we have the courage to seek to do that in our own lives? Does it frighten us or challenge us when someone else responds to Christ's call within their own life, that we can only respond with, "Have you ever considered getting a real job? You know, for your future..."

If you're really concerned, if you feel that question rising in your head to ask myself or someone else similarly called to a life of service to Christ... please first ask yourself in period of silent and sincere prayer what Christ is asking of YOU.

How is Christ calling YOU to use all the gifts He has bestowed upon you to witness to His love, care for others in need, and support ministers of the Gospel and those dedicated to making the world around them a better place in accordance with the teachings of Christ?

What value do you put on a person's soul? How much is your salvation or that of a loved one worth to you? What about that of a stranger? What exactly is it that Jesus calls us to do? What is it that He is calling you to do?

If you would like to support the work of missionaries who have taken that great leap of faith to leave behind the security that the world promises and place their trust in God, I encourage you to make a commitment to pray weekly for our missionaries and consider making a monthly financial gift. 

Thank you and God bless!

Sincerely, 

Tricia

Founder & Mission Director

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