I’ve been reading a lot of missionary stories lately. I’m challenged by people who’d given up position and reputation to bring the gospel to unreached peoples. Some people had good reason to be unreached. Would you bring the Bible to an island nation who would sooner eat you? What would be your strategy for reaching cannibals? I lay down at night thinking about these things. You can imagine my dreams have been quite vivid as of late.

Recently, I was in Herrnhut, Germany for the “Festival of the Nations.” This is a conference for all of YWAM Europe that everyone at our base was to attend. (if they could get visas) The purpose of this conference was for vision building, teaching, networking with other missionaries, etc. A neat little perk was being able to take a tour of historical Herrnhut.

In the 1700’s, Herrnhut was a town full of religious refugees. Count Zinzendorf, a wealthy Christian landowner, allowed a group of Moravians to settle on his property. They’d been persecuted by the Catholic church. Zinzendorf felt the Holy Spirit wanted him to open the city to all Christian refugees, and in five years Herrnhut was filled with Lutherans, Anabaptists, Reformed, and even persecuted Catholics.

Soon all these little groups were fighting each other about communion, liturgies, pastoral oversight, and other things. Zinzendorf, an amazing leader, managed to visit each family and bring them into unity. Every household signed an agreement to “stand in unceasing love with all children of God in all Churches.”

And then God was able to do something great in Herrnhut. They had communion together. Forgiveness and foot washing was normal between the groups. They organized a 24 hour a day prayer schedule that lasted around 100 years. Herrnhut began sending missionaries around the world, to islanders in the Caribbean, Eskimos in Greenland, colonists and natives in America, and literally all over the globe.

They were fearless in their commitment. At one point, word came back to the church that 12 missionaries sent to the Caribbean had died since their sending. Before church got out, 14 people stood and asked to replace their fallen brothers. I read this and shake my head. I’m so far from this.

Months ago, I had a conversation with a missions student. He wanted to talk to me about showing his absolute commitment to God. Maybe he could dedicate himself to stay single for the rest of his life, like the Apostle Paul. (Hmm, I wonder now if he thought I’d made such a commitment, since I’m single at my age)

I told him, “Well first, I think that you like girls way too much to make that kind of vow.”
He laughed because we both knew the truth of that statement. But the conversation continued.

“There’s something in all of us that wants to do spectacular things for God. That’s great, but it starts with our faithfulness in the little things. Are you really committed to Him? Show him in your daily quiet time. How are you doing with ‘loving your neighbor?’ Do the basic stuff with your whole heart, then maybe when God calls you to big stuff you’ll be able to obey Him.”

God has a way of bringing my own words back to me, when my faith wavers, and I’m not on the Top Ten Obedient Children list. Still, I love and lean with the guy in the Bible who said, “I do believe… help me with my unbelief.”

¶ 4:03 AM

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