Do you think of yourself as missionary? How do you submit to the Great Commandment of “Go and make disciples”? As a mom of three little ones, I consider myself productive if I can round them up to go to the store, shop, and head home just in time for naps so that they don’t turn into little gremlins.
“Go?”
Go where? I can’t go. I have wee little ones at home. I admire those who can go.
Truth is…
You are a missionary at home. You are on a mission to bring up your children as arrows for the kingdom of God. You are to point your little ones toward the gospel and suit them up with the full armor of God.
Now stretch your perspectives with me…
Even when you feel like your children mean the whole world to you, they are not. There is a bigger world out there that every woman – regardless of your marital status and number of children you have – is called to: to make disciples of all nations.
In her book Missional Motherhood, Gloria Furman challenges us to realize that “nurturing” involves discipling, serving, caregiving, mothering, teaching, showing hospitality by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Stretch with me just a littler further …
Mission is not a job. Mission is a lifestyle. Missional opportunities are everywhere… even at the grocery store with your children.
In the last century, God has really changed the landscape of global missions.
The 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange found the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities to be the highest rate of growth in 35 years, increasing by ten percent to a record high of 974,926 students in the 2014/15 academic year.
Wow! Those 974,926 people are from all nations…that’s almost a million in the USA! How many of them are in neighborhoods where you live? I live in a college town where there are about 10,000. I see them at the store, and they smile at me as I corral my kids into my shopping cart. Chances are that you have international students near where you live.
The landscape of global missions boomerangs from going overseas to going shopping in your own hometown.
These international students arrive in the US with two suitcases filled with anticipation, dreams of their future, and an eagerness to learn. Many of them are not only here to achieve academic goals, but desire to learn new concepts and “the American way.” Let us pray that they will refill those two suitcases with the gospel. Let us show them that the American way starts with one smiling nod, two helping hands, and perhaps one very messy family mealtime with your children.
Take them shopping with you to the store. Let them hold your baby. Let them read Mother Goose nursery rhymes to your child. They may ask, “Why in the world would someone bake 4 and 20 black birds into a pie?” Be prepared to answer that, but also be prepared to talk about your story, your faith, and your Salvation through Jesus Christ. They will remember you and your story, and perhaps share it with their friends and family when they return to their homeland. They will remember the way you teach your children when they have their own. They will, if the Lord chooses, turn to your God when they face their unknown future.
Better yet, create a Bible study group with them. I have experienced countless “aha” moments where we learn about God with my Love God Greatly Bible study group. We are “going” and “making” disciples via our interactions with international students from all over the world.
By doing so, YOU are a missionary.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” ~ Hebrews 13:2
Cheers,
Yating Chang Haller
Yating is a former international student who arrived to the USA 20 years ago with two suitcases. She and her husband – with three little children in tow – now serve as full-time missionaries at Purdue University, reaching out to international students arriving with two suitcases of hopes, dreams, and anticipation. You can contact Yating at [email protected]
Maybe this year God is calling you to open your home and welcome some international students into it…
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Friends, our brand new BOOK, You Are Forgiven, is now available on Amazon!! Order your copy TODAY, invite your friends, and plan to join us for our NEW Love God Greatly Fall study… starting on MONDAY!!
“In this broken world we are all touched by shame, guilt, and difficult relationships. But God has a better way. Whether you are in need of the forgiveness and new life that Jesus extends to each of us, or you are longing for relationships that are free from blame and strife, this book is for you. Through the lens of God’s Word plus real-life stories, You Are Forgiven poignantly reminds readers that what Jesus did on the cross is the only thing that frees us from the prison of unforgiveness.
In this 8-week Love God Greatly Bible study, you’ll learn about how Jesus obtained for us the forgiveness of sins and what that means in our everyday lives. We’ll examine many of the different facets of forgiveness, including: Why do we need it? How do we get it? What is the extent of our forgiveness, and how should it change us?”
Dare to believe that you are forgiven… and then let that life-changing truth transform your life from the inside out.
The world is knocking on my doors ! It’s so exciting to have the opportunity again to facilitate 3 groups this study. I haven’t had three for two years! The excitement is palpable for sure. I loved being on the Launch Team and previewed the book ?❤️?❤️ You all will love it as well. I still have an open group for aged 50+ Women on Facebook to do this study.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1172703129440533/
I am facilitating two this study…I believe in thins message so much. Thank YOU for leading three!!!
No thanks needed! It’s all for God’s glory. I’m sure you will live your ladies! ?
You are reaching so many women! That is fantastic!
Mondee~LLG Encourager
Sooo looking forward to beginning this study! Our ladies are excited as well! Thank you, LGG women, for all the work you’ve put into blessing the world of women…and even men…with this wonderful study on forgiveness! It is an overwhelmingly needed subject in the lives of sinners and saints! May the Lord receive all the glory as we move forward together learning how very much we are loved by Him and how very much He wants us to emulate Him in the area of forgiving others and forgiving ourselves when we fall short of His plan and purpose for us! May the evil one be confounded in any efforts to confuse or disrupt this study! And may our Father, our precious Savior, and the teaching of the Spirit clearly give us enlightenment where there is darkness, understanding where there is confusion, and joy where there is sorrow for I ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen!
Pat love, we are honoured to be doing all of this for God. And that you believe in us to study with us is enough reward darling. I pray for you and your ladies that God will use this study to start, continue His work of healing and transformation in your lives. Much love from LGG and happy studying.
Ebos, LGG, Encourager
Pat, thank YOU for joining us! I believe in this message so much! Thank you for being a part of it!
I loved the blog today! Doing mission work has been on my heart for a couple years now, I want to go to other countries. BUT, what a beautiful way to think of doing mission work right here, daily! Thank you for shedding a new light on this subject for me! I’m so ready for this study to officially begin. I started reading and am loving the You Are Forgiven book, and already it has me hungry to learn more, it’s already brought tears to my eyes but joy in my heart all at the same time. I’ve been so blessed with a large group and a co facilitator! Thank you to all that work so hard to make these studies possible and available to all.
Mondee ~LLG Encourager
Mondee, I absolutely cannot wait for this study to start! Thank YOU for all you do!
Missions. It is something you think about Annie Armstrong or Lottie Moon, you don’t think about yourself being a mission field. But we are witnesses of Christ in everything we do. From dropping our kids off at school, to checking out at the grocery store. Missions starts with us, in our homes with our children and it grows from there. And even if we mess up, and we stumble and fall, well we are forgiven. We get back up and with God’s help we start over again and move forward. You are Forgiven is probably my favorite study so far, has such a powerful message and I am so thankful to be a part of it!
Great blog!
I didn’t look at making disciples in this way but the article has indeed helped me see that’s what this study is. Our ministries, our jobs or homes!
“Then the Lord said to him What is that in your hand? he answered a Shepherds staff”
Moses thought it was just a shepherds staff God knew it was so much more than that! So too does He know wherever we are, with the gifts He’s given they’re what He’s equipped us with to go make disciples.
Verona, that article was simply an eye- opener for me as well. I am so pleased you liked it. May we all come to recognize that we serve wherever we are and make missions our living lifestyle.