God gives us children to teach us lessons we might completely overlook if not for their innocent questions.
One evening, I came home from work and sat in my chair reading. Brianne was on the floor in front of me, playing with some toys. A non-profit Christian organization’s TV ad came on, and I saw Brianne put her toy down and watch as the camera moved from one hungry child’s face to another. Distended stomachs and flies crawling over small faces made the scene even more upsetting. I’ll never forget the look on Brianne’s face and the fear in her voice when she turned to me and asked, “Daddy, what is that man saying?” I told her those children had nothing to eat and the man was asking people to send money so they could buy food. She turned back to the TV and, after a few moments, came over to my chair and said, “Daddy, we’re going to give them something, aren’t we?”
The skeptic in me wanted to explain to my daughter that the video was probably filmed months or even years ago and that those children might not even be alive anymore. But my child’s heart was moved to help, and we had to do something. Brianne and Brandon each received $5.00 from an older lady in town, whom we delivered mail to every day. Brianne decided to give $2.50 of her share to this ministry. We addressed the envelope together and placed the check inside. Brianne licked the stamp and put it on the front (yes, we used to lick stamps). I prayed that this simple act of faith, prompted by the Holy Spirit moving on her heart, would nurture a lifelong sensitivity in her toward those whose lives we can somehow touch and share the love of Jesus.
Supporting mission organizations and individual missionaries is important because missions, both foreign and domestic, are God’s plan to establish new churches and bring new believers to Christ. Early in my ministry, I was praying about a job offer where I had to raise my own support when I read an article titled, Are Missionaries Parasites? It declared that not only are churches commanded to support missionaries, but they also share in the results of those missions. I accepted the job.
If you’re not sharing in the ministry of a missionary, God would have you consider it. We can’t all go, but we can all help those who do. Oswald J. Smith said, “Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice, before everyone has heard it once?” Missions is our mandate.