A Letter from the Executive Director

A Letter fr o m th e Executive Director

by Clint Cook, Executive Director

H o w c a n I k n o w w h at G o d w a nts m e to d o with my life?

As a pastor, I am frequently asked how people can know what God wants them to do with their lives. That question comes from teenagers who are at the beginning of their lives who are wondering which careereducation path to take. It is also asked by adults, many who have traveled several different paths, often wrong paths, in an effort to try and determine how to get on and stay on the right path. Both young and old alike want to know: How can I know what God wants me to do with my life?

Let’s admit it; this is a big question. I remember facing this question as a teenager in sensing that God was calling me to ministry. For me it was frightening when I thought of the prospect of God calling me to a place that perhaps I didn’t want to go. Would I up and run like Jonah and find myself in a whale of a lot of trouble? Or was God just wanting me to do ministry within my own community? I deciphered God’s call for ministry during that time, but it was on my first international mission trip that I would truly learn the difference between compassion and a call. On my first International Missions trip, I still recall vividly the work our team did and what I saw and felt. That experience continues to have a deep impact on my life all of these years later. I was a member of a medical team visiting Honduras. The year was 1999. Just one year prior to our arrival, Honduras had been decimated by a historic, devastating hurricane called Mitch. Even one year later the nation was still trying to recover and rebuild. Our work there was critically important, not only for medical reasons, but also for sharing the gospel with people who had suffered so much.

Soon after we arrived, we took a short bus trip to the property of Faith Home. This field had two missionary families serving General Baptists at that time: Mark & Kim Powell, and David & Martha Kelle. Thanks to Mark Powell, I was given a quick overview of what life and ministry was like on an international field.

I w a s d r a w n to th e c h i ld r e n b ei n g c a r e d fo r at Fa ith H o m e . I lo v e d s e ei n g p e o p le r es p o n d to the gospel message...

I remember always wanting to be a part of a short-term missionary team. In my first exposure to international ministry, I discovered that I enjoyed immensely meeting and ministering to the Honduran people. I was drawn to the children being cared for at Faith Home. I loved seeing people respond to the gospel message, whether it was in response to my preaching or someone else’s preaching. It was just so rewarding and encouraging to see God working throughout my trip on that international mission field. I must admit I started to wonder if God was calling me to leave my current church assignment as pastor and transition to an international mission field.

As I sought God’s direction for me at that time, He showed me a few things that have proved to be incredibly important to me. He reminded me of the incredible compassion and sympathy I had for the people I encountered. I wanted to do all that I could to ease the Honduran people’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. But He whispered to me that the compassion and emotion I felt for the people of Honduras on that trip was not affirming His call to me to be a missionary to Honduras. The burning desire, the heavy weight upon my heart and mind to proclaim His Word and pastor my local church never let up. It never eased. In fact, it grew stronger because pastoring a local church was my calling.

As Christians, no matter where we go, whether it be an international field, an inner-city work, or even a Sunday school class in a local church, all of us can and should feel compassion for those around us. But a deep emotion or connection with people that we are ministering to does not necessarily mean God is “calling” us to that field or that community work as a vocation. Such a decision should be made carefully, prayerfully, and with much counsel and guidance.

This issue of The Messenger is focused on International Missions. The book of Matthew tells us: “Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38. May you enjoy the pages of this issue with a prayerful heart, discerning mind, and attentive ear to what God may be asking or affirming in you.