Paul?

I have met a man who reminds me of Paul. Most missionaries have a similar burden for their chosen field. The majority leave their known culture and childhood friends to live with a new language and mission-field friends. Our congregation supports a variety of missionaries. I’ll not list them all, but they’ve each left the familiar and moved out in faith:

The Hinkle family is an example of missionaries who keep their own language, but learn new words – ones that apply only to their mission field, nursing homes. There they hear the language of the elderly, who speak of things young people have not yet faced.

Berna Chavarria is also an example of missionaries who keep their own language, taking the gospel message to others in his homeland who have not heard of God’s love. A national pastor planting a church where there was none before.

John Magas, born in America, now speaking the language of his grandparents, in their native land. Having found God’s love in this new homeland, they return to share that love with those who remained behind without it.

Paul did that, too. He spoke in his native tongue with those of his homeland, sharing the gospel of Christ. He also spoke in other lands. We are not told in what language he spoke, but we are told that the populations understood his words. They responded. In numbers enough that the local religious leaders, and political leaders, were concerned about the results.

So concerned that they described their activities: And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; (Acts 17:6 KJV)

Let me tell you, there are those following in Paul’s footsteps today doing the exact same thing. They, too, have turned the world upside down for many people. And quite a few don’t like that at all.

Yesterday’s blog mentioned what happened in one specific incident. This is not the only place in the world, nor is it the only result of conversion. Out of the hundreds of nations on this earth, many of them hold pockets of persecution. At the least, doors are slammed in the faces of missionaries. In some, those doors are to a cell where the missionary has been thrown. In one instance, we were told of specific imprisonment and the resulting increase of faith.

That reminds me of Paul. The books of the New Testament speak of many imprisonments. It speaks of beatings, death threats – and of angels ministering to these men who chose to follow Christ.

There are places they go where we cannot follow except in our prayers and financial support. There are sermons they give that we cannot understand except they be interpreted. There is the love of God they share – and do so with us in them and we through them.

This, too, reminds me of Paul.

May God bless them and open the way for these missionaries to continue in His work.