Going to all Nations

14 years ago, in the midst of a life buzzing with little children, full time jobs and being absolutely ‘head over heels’ in love with our local church service to God, we heard something new: a beckoning invitation to “Come with me. Come and see what I am doing”. God overwhelmed me with the desire to go deeper and go further. Go, go , go.

We had visions of a multitude of fresh, adventurous global youth being filled with zeal and then dispersing across the planet. It consumed our thoughts and became our pursuit. And so began the cross-cultural aspect of our journey with the Great Commission.

There’s something about total abandonment, loosening your grip and becoming child-like in response to God’s invitation. We made the decision to leave the ‘security’ of full time jobs to embark on a relatively unknown future. It seemed almost irresponsible. But the whisper was clear. My own heart, my marriage and our little family unit was stretched like a rubber band during our Discipleship Training School but we found a larger purpose and have never looked back.

When I think about my personal journey to know God and make Him known on the earth, the following song has become an anthem.

For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me
Light a flame in my soul for all the world to see
For the sake of the world burn like a fire in me
“For the Sake of the World” – Bethel Music

When I first learned that 1/3 of the worlds population has no access to the Good News of Jesus, I was totally overwhelmed. I wanted to do whatever I could to be part of changing those numbers. The further we travelled physically and spiritually, God began to unfold how my life could make a difference.

I have learned that He is very present in the everyday while relentlessly reaching out for the lost. I  have learned that he values the family and that He desires engagement for the lost from each family member. I have learned that living in the Philippines and Afghanistan is possible – even enjoyable. God equips us with what we need at each moment. The only thing He requires is availability.

A decade on into this adventure, my littlies have grown into their own God-sized faith journeys. I have found no greater parental gift to give than allowing them to witness Jesus doing His work among the nations. And our ‘other children’ – the ones that have come over the years to be trained and sent – have learned the same. Dynamic growth takes place together in a family setting with every generation becoming a display of His goodness and faithfulness from infant to grandparent. We all play a part in God’s story.

In YWAM we have a saying that we are ‘spoiled for the ordinary’. This totally sums up the enormous blessing of having a personal journey with the Great Co-mission. He is with us, always wanting all to come.

"Therefore GO and make disciples of ALL nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded. And lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age." – Matthew 28:19