Why do you do it?

by James Ray

I have the privilege of meeting with many of our missionaries for personnel meetings when they come in from the field. All of them are great servants of God. Recently, a young couple was home from South America. They came to the World Missions Center to report on their work. The missionary is building a church in a large city in Venezuela, located geographically on the edge of the jungle. He is also a pilot and takes supplies deep into the jungle to other missionaries.

A two-hour flight by plane would be a two-week trek through the jungle. To reach the mission station overland, a team would have to go by canoe. Along the way they would encounter waterfalls. The boat and supplies, with native help, would have to be lifted from the river and carried over a small mountain to the other side of the falls to enable them to continue the journey. The team would encounter insects, snakes, and other dangers along the trail. However, God has supplied an airplane with the help of friends and churches and a dedicated young couple for this ministry.

The missionary told me the story of reaching people with the message of Christ. He told me of how he put his arms around them and showed them Christian love. He told me of changed lives. I asked, “Why do you do it? Why would a young couple go to a place like that and give themselves away to people they do not know.” His voice took on a tone of deep earnestness and he replied, “Because Jesus did that for me.”

Jesus did that for me! And what has he done for you? What a debt we owe to this world on behalf of Christ, to give them the Love of God.

Baptist International Missions serves over 8,000 churches, helping them in their work of sending their missionaries to the far flung corners of the globe. These churches have designated BIMI to work with them in this way. Space will not allow a listing of all that the Mission does to assist churches and their missionaries.

The World Missions Center is in need of support. Some churches have taken the WMC on as a missionary project. We are praying for new churches to help us in 2005 by supporting the Administrative Fund as a mission project. Call us for information on how your church can have a part. Will you pray with us? Please come by and see this work when you are in Chattanooga. You will be amazed at what God is doing!