“A missionary’s journey: considering the call” – part 1 of 4

God spoke to me while I was in high school about giving my life to the Great Commission, his eternal cause, and he continued to prepare my heart through the Missions and Discipleship Training that I received from Operation Mobilization after high school. The more I prayed, the more inspired I became to go.

Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples in Matthew 9 about the ready harvest that is plentiful, but has few labourers. He instructed the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to thrust out labourers into the fields. The fascinating thing is, in Matthew 10 we see that the very same disciples were the answer to that prayer! The Lord sent out the twelve, giving them authority over unclean spirits and the power to heal every disease and affliction as they went forth.

Although I was grateful for the foundation from OM, I felt that I needed something that I could relate with and better express myself with as an African. I learnt from a friend that an African missions organization had sent church planters amongst the unreached of Mozambique, who had been passionately working for decades. The Lord led me to take an active step towards visiting this dear missionary couple from Nigeria, serving in the northern province of Nampula.

It became evident that nothing worthwhile and purposeful goes unchallenged. At the time I was preparing myself to visit Mozambique, my local church and some of the leaders struggled to identify with and support my missions’ journey. That being the case, the passion and conviction to go did not fade away, but it was like what Jeremiah said: “fire shut up in my bones!” It could not be restrained. I insisted that the greatest need I had in my going, was not necessarily money but fervent prayers. Yes, it is true that I needed the money for traveling, personal upkeep and ministry logistics and expenses. However, it was not money I needed more, but the backing of prayer and moral support, which is unmatchable in every mission endeavour.

I remember one of the questions one pastor asked me, “What if what you want to do is not the will of God or you are disobeying him?” I replied, “As far as the Scriptures are concerned, I don’t think that I am disobeying God. There is a biblical basis for what I want to do, and if I am doing it in my own will and not God’s will, I can always come back. At the end of the day, I am not chased away from my home. But if it is God’s will, then I will be glad that I obeyed.”

I took the remaining savings I had at the time and booked a flight to Mozambique. I got some help from my missionary friends, and put together a send-off. I invited friends, family, pastors and leaders to share with them about my mission trip and to be sent off in prayer.