(by Pastor Tim Adrian, BBFI President)

The pastor pleaded with his congregation, “Pray more people will go to the mission fields!” The missionary showed his pictures and begged, “Pray for more laborers in the harvest!” The need is real and the need is obvious. A desperate world is spinning farther away from peace, rest, and goodness. The world is spinning away from God. We know there is only one real solution and it is found in Paul’s words to the Romans: “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” So, who are these preachers and where do they come from?

A few years back, our congregation gathered in the middle of the auditorium to pray over a young family headed to Asia as missionaries. The young man came to our church as a baby and we had watched him grow up. Tears filled my eyes as I saw a congregation gather around him and beg God for blessings. The church people had poured into his life down through the years and now he was being sent out. He is one of the preachers the apostle Paul mentioned because he had been called by God for ministry.

 We see the biblical pattern of God recruiting His missionary work force in the book of Acts.

“Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:1-2)  

I see three very simple principles of note: First, God uses a variety of people to do His work. Second, God separates or calls some people to do His work in new places. Finally, this calling is a spiritual movement orchestrated by God Himself.

I have often connected God’s calling to a love story. A boy is introduced to a girl and almost immediately he is interested. Soon, he’s smitten and begins to arrange time to talk and flirt. As the couple investigates each other, their friendship deepens. If it is meant to be, they become obsessed with each other and finally come to the conclusion they can’t be happy unless they are married for as long as they both shall live. Many missionaries have given testimony of being interested in a specific place or people group only to have it eventually grow into an obsession. They talk of loving people before they even meet them and they make plans to spend their lives in a culture not their own. This is a calling and it comes from God.

When God called Barnabas and Saul they were already deeply involved in the ministry at Antioch. I’ve noticed God invariably moves in the hearts of people who already have the right spiritual and biblical foundation, or at least they are moving in that direction. Proper discipleship brings about an understanding of basic biblical concepts and ministry skills.

Personal holiness and a desire for the things of God open the heart in such a way the still small voice of God is clearly heard.

 There is obviously a great power when someone is assured in his or her heart of God’s call to a particular ministry or place. A heavenly calling overwhelms moments of discouragement, problem circumstances, practical roadblocks, and spiritual warfare. It provides endurance, focus, enthusiasm, and purpose. The calling of God is the secret sauce of successful missionaries.

God’s call is an act of His will. People are not called because of their qualifications; rather they become qualified because of God’s calling. Thus we are challenged to accept the words of Christ: “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)

May we pray. May God work. And may the world never be the same.