It was 9:00 pm Wednesday night and we were almost safely home. As I turned into our subdivision I checked my rear view mirror to make sure we were not being followed. It was just a couple of more blocks to our house. As we drew close, I flashed the high beams and gave a good look around to make sure no one was lurking or hiding nearby. We weren’t returning home from some secret encounter with counterintelligence agents. We were just driving home from midweek prayer meeting. The tension wasn’t over yet though, because I still had to stop the car and get out in order to unlock and open the heavy metal garage door. As I did so, my wife quickly jumped into the driver’s seat and pulled the car into the garage. My feelings of relief were instantly stolen away by the sudden sound of four gunshots. Then just as quickly I ignored them. They were at least a half-mile away.

You must think we live in an extremely dangerous country. Well, no, it is not any more dangerous than many other places in the world…except maybe middle class America.

What most North American Christians do not realize and what may be the dark side of missions is the fear and danger in which most missionaries live around the world. There are exceptions, but most missionaries have to think about their own personal security every single day, to say nothing about the safety of their spouses and children.

Generally, people who live in well-developed nations do not understand how the majority of the world lives. Dealing daily with real fears and dangers is a routine way of life for most people in the world. I am not talking about the unhealthy or lack of faith kind of fear. I am referring to the self-preservation instinct or danger-is-present kind of fear. Clear and present danger is common on most mission fields of the world, whether it is violent crime, war, or disease.

This is the dark side of missions because missionaries seldom talk to their supporting churches about feelings like those described above. They do not want to move people through pity. They do not want to scare away potential candidates. They do not want to appea to have little faith.

The fact is that outside of the good ole’ USA, there are a lot of very dangerous places in the world. Because of the nature of their work, missionaries tend to live in those kinds of places.

The following is an excerpt from a prayer letter written by missionary Paul (the Apostle): “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”

Paul, for the cause of the Gospel, was robbed, beaten, mobbed, left for dead, etc. For the cause of the Gospel, missionaries expose themselves to those very same dangers on a daily basis. You need to pray for your missionaries. They need and desire your prayers just as Paul needed and solicited the prayers of the First Century believers.

At the risk of sounding sensational let me relate a recent happening. A missionary friend of mine is planting a church in a neighboring town. Last week he and his wife came home from an evening church service. Thieves had broken into their home. The missionaries, in their 70’s, were captured, bound and held at gun-point while their home was completely ransacked. Among the many stolen items were their entire month’s support and their wedding rings of 42 years. What they could not put in their car, which they stole, they destroyed. Oh, did I mention this missionary’s house has bars on all of the doors and windows and a 7-foot high solid block wall around the yard? I could share many more stories similar to this one or worse, but I won’t. You need to pray for the safety and protection of your missionaries.

Everyday around this precarious globe God’s faithful servants are victims of fraud, burglary, robbery, assault, etc. Many others make the ultimate sacrifice whether it is through violence, sickness or by some tragic accident.

This article may be too transparent. Christians, however, need to know how to pray for and encourage their missionaries. If (when) one of your missionaries is robbed, consider giving a special love offering to help replace stolen items or lost resources. If acts of violence are committed against them, consider what types of self-care they might need. Medical care, counseling, recovery time off the field are all legitimate possible needs. Pray for a special hedge of protection to be around your missionary families. Pray for your missionaries to experience God’s peace. Be understanding about what your missionary families are experiencing on the field.

So the next time you and your family pull into the garage after mid-week service, remember to pray for your missionaries. And when that little six-year-old angel of yours is all safely tucked in for the night, don’t forget to pray for the dark side of missions.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jonathan & Heidi Huff -  TOGO
Robert & Gail Huffman -  FRANCE
Don & Helen Hughes -  USA - NEW YORK