ZIPPORAH WRITES: As Christians we are part of a group of people that extends across the globe. There are other believers in our towns, states and countries, but also those we do not see — the ones being persecuted and imprisoned. The ones who are doing REALLY hard things. What can we do to get more involved with believers we have never met?
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First comment!!
As a person living in a mission-y environment, I think that the best way you can get involved is prayer. I have no idea how many people have prayed for the missionaries in my country, but thanks to these unknown prayer warriors the light of the gospel has been brought to some of the darkest places in the darkest times Colombia has seen. If you want to get really involved the best places to search are either news reports or blogs, and then just pray specifically to the needs of the person. Constant prayer for someone you´ve never met requires perseverance, but I´ve seen some of the stuff God can do, it´s AMAZING and totally worth it.
Prayer is definitely always the first response. My church has several missionaries that we support financially and regularly pray for; I try to pray for them in my personal prayer time as well. Prayer is very powerful; imagine what could happen if thousands of believers around the world were all praying with all their heart for the work of the gospel!
Also, you might see if there is a way to support the work of a particular mission group through giving money. I don’t know much about this, but it might be another good way to get involved.
-Grace (meyougod.blogspot.com)
Prayer is huge!! Voice of the Martyrs had this thing called “Adopt a Front Line Worker” where you can commit to pray every day for a specific Chrurch worker in a restricted country for one year. Also through Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs, you can financially support members of the persecuted church. There are many foreign ministries out there that are in great need for prayer and support! Things like Operation Christmas Child or Compassion International…I’m interested in what others are gonna say on this one because there is so much we can be doing! 🙂
Wow! That is great! Prayer is powerful!
Prayer is the answer to everything! Thank you!
I’ve seen the “adopt a front line worker” but didn’t know what it was, I will be sure to look into it! I really want to write letters through Open Doors. Thanks for your tips!
Thanks to those who have already elaborated on the importance of prayer! I would just like to say that writing letters can mean the world to foreign missionaries! Especially during the holidays when they miss home most. Just a letter that says that you are praying for and thinking of them. And I think that building a correspondence with a missionary kid would also be awesome! Particularly one that hasn’t been exposed to American culture very much. Good question @disqus_pDKExTt6f6:disqus. God bless!
Good Question! And good answers too 😉
A lot of churches have a display for the missionaries they currently support. That’s always a good place to start! You could write an encouraging letter to brighten their day, or send them a care package full of things that remind them of home, wherever that may be. You could even sign up for e-mail updates!
Prayer for our fellow believers is so important! (The answer to all these DQs, but so true!)
Hope that helps a little bit, Zipporah 🙂
(I love your name, by the way!)
Wow! Some great responses below, everyone.
I would say that you should definitely spread awareness about the persecuted church. A good friend of mine named Acacia set up a table at my church and sold homemade cards and then had another table set up next to it where the person would take the card that they purchased and then write a note of encouragement to a designated missionary in a persecuted country. This way all the proceeds from the card would go to Voice of the Martyrs and the note would also encourage a missionary! She was able to raise over 8,000 dollars in the span of a year!!!! Today, I am inspired by her and her desire to do hard things right where she is.
Talk to the missionaries your church is supporting, and find ways to encuarage them. As you get to know them you can learn what they like, but can’t easily get in their area and send it to them. Depending on the situation guitar/mandolin strings, bug spray, socks, books in English and the trade language, sheet music, comfy sandals, and flashlights, have all seemed helpful. Don’t forget the kids either! They’d probably enjoy getting books, art supplies, stickers, etc. (I wouldn’t send food or money because of customs laws.)
Sometimes it’s risky to email or use social networking, but always talk to them. Let them know you are praying, talk about what you learn from scripture lately, ask how to pray, and they might want to pray for you. Pray, and pray hard.
If you don’t know many missionaries or just want to learn more To Every Tribe is a great place to start. The IMB, Secret Church, Operation World, Vioce Of the Martyrs, and Pray4hui.Com are also great resources. Hope this helps!
The Voice of the Martyrs! You can sign up for their free magazine to stay up to date on what’s going on and know better how to pray, get their emails, and even request a pastor to specifically pray for (they send you a picture). I think they have a way to send letters/cards to their pastors as well. You can support with one-time or monthly donations.
This is more practical for me in my case, because I can’t afford to go on mission trips, and I don’t feel that is what God is calling me to do right now.
Thank you! I would love to write to a missionary kid! Thank you for the suggestion!
Thank you! I find all the comments helpful!
Wow!!! That is awesome!
This helps a lot!
You’re welcome! And I’m sure they would absolutely LOVE to hear from you. 🙂
Great advice from all. But don’t forget that our proving ground is often where we are planted. Hard things are not always far from our reach. As Christians, we are promised hardships and trials. Sometimes hard things can be a season in the valley. Sometimes it can be our next door neighbor in need. It can also be witnessing to a really good religious person. Walking with a disabled loved one is hard. But in all things, His grace is sufficient.
May God be in it all.
Blessings to you!
Jean
Open Doors is a really awesome ministry that focuses on encouraging the persecuted believers. https://www.opendoors.org/ You can pray, give, travel, advocate, or even write letters to persecuted believers (https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/advocacy/letter-writing/). I heartily suggest you check it out!
I think these were good responses to a valid question. As a missionary, I can attest that it means a lot to know that people are praying for you, that your home church has not forgotten you, and to receive letters or emails (these things encourage me, anyway). As for getting to know other Christians, I’ve found the Rebelution.com encouraging just because it reminds me how many young born-again believers there still are in America and elsewhere. There are probably a good number of truly born-again Christians in your hometown that you haven’t met yet because they go to other churches. You could possibly collaborate with them on projects to reach the community. Although our goal in building friendships is not selfish gain, they do often prove to be a great benefit to us, and it’s also encouraging to spend time with other believers and their zeal for the Lord is contagious!
I’m sorry this is off topic, but I can’t figure out any other way to get help. I can’t get the comments section of the article “The Other Side of Modesty” or in the discussion on male modesty to load. I have some questions pertaining to that topic, but there is no other place to ask them. 🙁
Thank you for your input, I appreciate it! I will definitely be on the lookout for other believers in my hometown!
Very good suggestion! My favorite missionary is Brother Andrew who started Open Doors. Thanks!
There’s this organization http://www.onewiththem.com/resources/wristbands/ that sells wristbands that look like barbed wire (don’t worry, they’re really just rubber) on them they say One With Them to remind us of the persecuted Christians! They’re really cool and very cheap. I encourage you to look for missionaries that have come back to the states for furlough or for good. Being one myself I can tell you that it means a lot to us to meet Christians back in our “home” countries. When our family moved back to the States, after 7 years in China we always found it encouraging to meet other Christians who were interested in what we’d been doing overseas. Also, just remember that though you may not be risking your life overseas, your still being a missionary in the country you’re in, because America desperately needs God too.
Ummm… that’s weird. I just looked at a reply over on “The Other Side of Modesty”. It worked for me. Try reloading?
I fear I can’t be much help… 🙁
Convicting, but so true! Thanks!
I was able to post a comment on the discussion feed about male modesty through the disqus website.
Very true! Thank you for commenting. I’ll look into that site!
I agree with the people that are saying talk to missionaries. I have cousins that are missionaries in the Middle East and talking to to them has given me valuable insight on what it is like to serve God when your life is on the line. I would also say travel. Visit local organizations and possibly ones abroad to learn more about the Christians that work there. I guarantee you will meet some of the coolest people EVER.
From memory I think I had a similar problem with that thread a while ago. Don’t know why though…
As people are saying, it’s great to talk to overseas missionaries to get a better understanding of some of the challenges that they face. It’s also really encouraging when you do, because it shows you that in many ways you’re not too different. After all, we don’t become missionaries by crossing the sea, but by seeing the cross.
Hey guys! Sorry I’m late to this one….For anyone who didn’t know, I’m actually an American gal living on mission in Zambia!! First of all, I want to say that we are ALL on a mission field!! And your mission field is no more or less special or meaningful than mine…
One of the reasons I started joining this conversation is because I need something consistent to help me stay focused on God and have some sort of accountability. I have my friends at home with whom I stay in contact, but this also helps me a lot! =) So I think what you are doing just my being a part of this conversation is allowing you to reach people from all over the world! I also have a blog (https://meganhensley98.wordpress.com/) which for me, by publicizing it, I have had views from 6 different countries!!! So, I think there are lots of ways to stay in contact…Admittedly, many of the ways I can think of start with searching different organizations or missionaries in certain countries via the internet….but after that you could always write letters if you’d rather not communicate only through technology!
Just a side note, as someone who moved away from my hometown of 12 years, when I was 16…It’s NOT easy! There are struggles I went through (and still go through) and things that I have experienced which are hard to find words for. ….And so your desire to communicate and love of the people whom you have never met…..It’s super sweet! And it means a LOT!!! I know that any missionary, adult or child, would REALLY appreciate your communication with them! So thank you! 🙂
Yes, an awesome option! I love VOM!!!
Great!
VOM is pretty sweet! 🙂 Have you seen Open Doors’ youtube videos? They are an awesome reminder of all the persecuted church can teach us and to never stop praying for them! 🙂
Yes, agreed!! And no I haven’t, Ill have to look them up! Thanks Sam! 🙂
This is a great opportunity to get together with other believers who are doing hard things in their schools! 4 years ago, my private Christian school started The Micah Conference. It is a conference in mid June where high school students get together and hear about what they can do to change the world for the better and have conversations with other students about this. This conference is four consecutive days long and at cairn university in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and we bring in speakers from all around the country. This year we had 78 students attend and we got to hear from Andy Crouch, the editor of Christianity Today magazine, about what our true purpose as youth is. A cool thing about us is that we are totally student organized and we really understand how to make it a fun time. Please contact us if you want to know more!
[email protected]
Or visit our website:
http://www.micahconference.org