The Sacrifice of God
John and Mary (not their real names) live and work
in a country that is not open to traditional missionary approaches.
They serve as "bi-vocational" missionaries-believers whose primary
responsibility is to work in a secular position, but whose ultimate
goal is to introduce the lost to Jesus Christ.
Both individual and church donors occasionally express concern about the effectiveness of bi-vocational missionaries. The following letter from John illustrates how bi-vocational missionaries can establish a level of friendship and trust with their unsaved neighbors and co-workers that opens the door for God to accomplish what would otherwise have been impossible.
"Last month I asked you to pray for a woman who was suffering from cancer, because I believed that she did not have many days left. I was not mistaken. The things I witnessed during her last days leads me to the conviction that your prayers during these last few weeks have had a profound effect!
"When she was rushed to the hospital because of severe breathing difficulties, she went immediately into intensive care. Dozens of relatives and friends gathered outside the ICU. I sought and obtained permission to pray for her, which allowed me to stand in a position where I was able to see and be seen by the family who were gathered around her bed. With eyes closed and hands open and directed upward, I prayed silently for about 20 minutes that the Lord would unveil the truth to her. As was customary for this family, they genuinely thanked me for praying for her.
"When I visited the hospital the next day, the husband invited me into the room and offered me a chair next to him, while his mom continued to pray at the bedside of his dying wife. The husband and I talked in hushed tones while his mom prayed. He told me that the night before his wife had had great difficulty breathing. She'd turned blue and needed emergency attention. He said that the doctor had given up hope for a significant recovery, expecting rather that his wife would die soon.
"I explained to him that I had been reminded of Psalm 34, which says that God answers the cries of those who call out to Him. I mentioned that because many people were praying for his wife, God was definitely answering those prayers, although perhaps in a different way than what might be expected. I mentioned also that when my wife and I were praying for her just days earlier, we were impressed by verses in Isaiah 55, which indicated how freely the Lord answers and gives to those who cry out to Him. I then told him I would like to share with his wife a few things about the Sacrifice of God for the whole world to take away our sins.
"The husband then invited me to stand at her bedside. She held out her hand so I could grasp it, and then looked directly into my eyes. Her bright and eager look further emboldened me to share, however haltingly, about the Sacrifice of God.
"'I'd like to share with you about the Sacrifice of God, if I may,' I said. 'God answers our cries whenever we call out to Him. He meets all of our needs, especially the most important ones. He knows we struggle against sin. He has provided a way to pay for our sins. He has provided a sacrifice so that we can obtain that which is most valuable: eternal life. The Sacrifice of God was the Messiah. He gave up his life to be the sacrifice. Everyone who believes in the sacrifice will live forever. Would you permit me to pray for you?' She nodded fervently, while her mother-in-law also nodded in affirmation.
"I prayed the same truths that I had just delivered. I prayed that the Lord would touch her soul and give her joy and peace. Afterward, I looked her in the eye and asked if she could receive the Sacrifice of God. She replied, emphatically shaking her head, 'Ya.' She smiled at me. I smiled at her and said, 'Praise be to God.'
"At that point, the husband thanked me for coming and I made my way to the door. As I walked down the hallway, my spirit began to process what had just happened. During the previous months, an abiding burden for her soul to be saved had crescendoed to an almost unbearable level for me as her health declined. The previous week I was in tears at the prospect of her soul spending an eternity apart from Jesus. Now the tears came back, but for a different reason. I had to stop in the waiting room to sob as I realized that the burden I had carried was gone. Her faith had saved her. The Lord had poured out mercy and grace on one who would meet Him face to face just two days later."
John is continuing to reach out to the woman's husband, who happens to direct the agency John works for. Similar events happen among the Navigators missionary family on a regular basis.
Both individual and church donors occasionally express concern about the effectiveness of bi-vocational missionaries. The following letter from John illustrates how bi-vocational missionaries can establish a level of friendship and trust with their unsaved neighbors and co-workers that opens the door for God to accomplish what would otherwise have been impossible.
"Last month I asked you to pray for a woman who was suffering from cancer, because I believed that she did not have many days left. I was not mistaken. The things I witnessed during her last days leads me to the conviction that your prayers during these last few weeks have had a profound effect!
"When she was rushed to the hospital because of severe breathing difficulties, she went immediately into intensive care. Dozens of relatives and friends gathered outside the ICU. I sought and obtained permission to pray for her, which allowed me to stand in a position where I was able to see and be seen by the family who were gathered around her bed. With eyes closed and hands open and directed upward, I prayed silently for about 20 minutes that the Lord would unveil the truth to her. As was customary for this family, they genuinely thanked me for praying for her.
"When I visited the hospital the next day, the husband invited me into the room and offered me a chair next to him, while his mom continued to pray at the bedside of his dying wife. The husband and I talked in hushed tones while his mom prayed. He told me that the night before his wife had had great difficulty breathing. She'd turned blue and needed emergency attention. He said that the doctor had given up hope for a significant recovery, expecting rather that his wife would die soon.
"I explained to him that I had been reminded of Psalm 34, which says that God answers the cries of those who call out to Him. I mentioned that because many people were praying for his wife, God was definitely answering those prayers, although perhaps in a different way than what might be expected. I mentioned also that when my wife and I were praying for her just days earlier, we were impressed by verses in Isaiah 55, which indicated how freely the Lord answers and gives to those who cry out to Him. I then told him I would like to share with his wife a few things about the Sacrifice of God for the whole world to take away our sins.
"The husband then invited me to stand at her bedside. She held out her hand so I could grasp it, and then looked directly into my eyes. Her bright and eager look further emboldened me to share, however haltingly, about the Sacrifice of God.
"'I'd like to share with you about the Sacrifice of God, if I may,' I said. 'God answers our cries whenever we call out to Him. He meets all of our needs, especially the most important ones. He knows we struggle against sin. He has provided a way to pay for our sins. He has provided a sacrifice so that we can obtain that which is most valuable: eternal life. The Sacrifice of God was the Messiah. He gave up his life to be the sacrifice. Everyone who believes in the sacrifice will live forever. Would you permit me to pray for you?' She nodded fervently, while her mother-in-law also nodded in affirmation.
"I prayed the same truths that I had just delivered. I prayed that the Lord would touch her soul and give her joy and peace. Afterward, I looked her in the eye and asked if she could receive the Sacrifice of God. She replied, emphatically shaking her head, 'Ya.' She smiled at me. I smiled at her and said, 'Praise be to God.'
"At that point, the husband thanked me for coming and I made my way to the door. As I walked down the hallway, my spirit began to process what had just happened. During the previous months, an abiding burden for her soul to be saved had crescendoed to an almost unbearable level for me as her health declined. The previous week I was in tears at the prospect of her soul spending an eternity apart from Jesus. Now the tears came back, but for a different reason. I had to stop in the waiting room to sob as I realized that the burden I had carried was gone. Her faith had saved her. The Lord had poured out mercy and grace on one who would meet Him face to face just two days later."
John is continuing to reach out to the woman's husband, who happens to direct the agency John works for. Similar events happen among the Navigators missionary family on a regular basis.
