STAFF NOTES | By Carol Pipes
I don’t recall the first time I heard the word missionary. I know it must have been at a very young age. I do remember listening to missionary reports, sitting in my church’s sanctuary, lights dimmed, watching slides of far off places and wondering what it must be like to leave friends and family to go to remote places like Africa and Alaska (yes, in my young mind they were equally far away) to tell people about Jesus. The whole idea of dropping everything and moving across the country or around the world seemed scary but exciting. But no matter how different their mission field, there was always a common thread in their ministry reports—an undeniable call from God and a surrendering of the heart fully to Him.
2 Samuel 23:20-21 introduces a man who I think exemplifies the missionary spirit. His name is Benaiah, and scripture tells us that on a particularly snowy day he goes into a pit with a lion and in hand-to-paw combat comes out victorious. The Lord wired Benaiah to be a mighty warrior. Our North American missionaries are wired that same way. Every day they face insurmountable obstacles as they take the gospel to a hardened mission field. They are lion chasers.
The story of Benaiah is a microcosm of how God calls us to approach life—fully abandoned to Him. In our cover story “Chasing Lions,” you’ll read first hand how one missionary was called by God to surrender his heart, step out on faith, and pursue divine opportunities. We are unable to use Jason’s real name with the article because of the sensitive work he is doing. But it’s a wonderful reminder of the sacrifices our missionaries make in order to serve the Lord. Let it also be a reminder that we need to continually lift our missionaries up in prayer.
I wonder what Benaiah’s prayer was that day. You know he had to be a man of prayer. You don’t go around chasing lions without spending time with God. Perhaps he prayed for the opportunity to come face to face with a lion to beef up his resume. Maybe he simply prayed for the Lord’s protection that day. Or maybe he asked God to use him to do something amazing that would demonstrate God’s glory to all people for generations to come. Shouldn’t that be our prayer?
Carol Pipes, editorcpipes@namb.net
P.S. You may have noticed a change to the cover of the magazine. This change signifies an exciting day for On Mission and the North American Mission Board. This fall NAMB will be launching a television show on FamilyNet. “On Mission Xtra” (OMX) will bring the pages of the magazine to life. Highlighting the work of North American missionaries and on mission Christians, OMX provides a blend of missionary features, interviews, and profiles of people who are reaching North America with the gospel. Since OMX is an extension of On Mission, we designed a logo that would compliment the magazine and the show. Be sure and check your local listings for airtimes this November.
1. Before school starts, gather a group of people from your church and prayerwalk the campuses of your local schools.
2. Adopt an international college student and invite them to your family’s holiday celebrations.
3. Practice reverse trick-or-treating. Purchase candy bars and Christian DVDs like The Jesus Film and distribute to your neighbors.
4. Find an elderly couple or single parent in your neighborhood and offer to rake their leaves all season. With each visit continue to develop a relationship with this family.
5. October is World Hunger month. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food pantry. Visit www.namb.net/hunger to find out how you can give financially.
6. Start a spiritual discussion group for the men or women in your neighborhood.
7. Organize or help host a Thanksgiving dinner at your church for those who work on Thanskgiving Day or who would otherwise dine alone. Include testimonies and a gospel presentation.
8. Pray for lost family members. When you see them during the holidays, ask if they have any specific requests. It just might jump-start a spiritual discussion.
9. Start a soup night. Invite neighbors over once a week or month for soup and Bible study.
10. Do you commute by public transportation? Pray for the people on your bus or train.