On a Mission for Jesus

from Messenger Spring 2020

Pastors Advancing the Gospel in India

On A Mission For Jesus By: Amanda Ball-Knight

Isaiah and Jeremiah were both called by God. Though each had a very different response, ultimately Isaiah and Jeremiah both surrendered to God and fulfilled their callings.

In Isaiah chapter 6, Isaiah had a vision where he saw seraphim surrounding God on the throne. The seraphim sang of God’s holiness, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts” (vs. 3). Then the mighty voice of God was heard by Isaiah, causing him to confess that he was a sinner and unworthy to stand before God. Because of God’s amazing grace and mercy, He cleansed Isaiah! God then called for a messenger. Isaiah responded, “Here am I, send me.” (vs. 8). When Isaiah put his whole heart and trust in God, he willingly responded to the call of God.

Jeremiah’s calling demonstrates that God can call anyone. Remember God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. In Jeremiah chapter one, God speaks to Jeremiah, telling him that He knew him even before he was formed in his mother’s womb. God formed Jeremiah (and us) and called him for a great work and purpose. Jeremiah responded, “I cannot speak: for I am a child.” God encouraged Jeremiah and let him know that He will always be with him to deliver him. Jeremiah then answered the call.

Often we demonstrate Isaiah and Jeremiah’s responses to the call of God. If the calling is what we want to do, or simple and manageable, we tend to be like Isaiah and say, “Here am I, send me.” If the calling is scary and requires more faith and trust in Christ we tend to respond like Jeremiah with an excuse: I’m too old/young, I do not do well in that area, I have too much on my plate, I’m just one person, etc.

When God calls us, He is looking for our availability, not our ability. It is essential, no matter the calling God has placed upon our lives, that we surrender to Him wholly and fully knowing He will never leave us or forsake us!

God has called and ordained us each to be a disciple for Him. How will you respond?

Meet Maggye, a thirteen-year-old disciple of Christ and daughter of author Amanda and Rev Joe Knight. Maggye’s birth story is a bit of a scary feat. During some routine prenatal blood work, the physician found my lab work to be completely abnormal; an ultrasound was then ordered confirming our worst fears…there was no fetal heartbeat. After much grieving and prayer, we soon found that our prayers were answered because follow-up testing and a repeat ultrasound revealed a healthy fetal heartbeat. Praises were sent straight to the Master! Our excitement though was soon met with fear again as the enemy continued to try and destroy Maggye. Throughout my pregnancy I spent countless days (weeks and months) in the hospital related to complications and preterm labor. Maggye was finally was delivered by an emergency

Be that disciple. Be that missionary. Be that servant of Christ. We are all fellow Kingdom builders working for the same purpose of sharing Jesus.

c-section five and a half weeks early. After spending some time in the NICU, she was discharged happy and healthy to go home! God is so good!

We soon realized why the enemy tried so hard to destroy our girl. Maggye accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour at just seven years old and soon after she felt the call of God on her life. Through God’s call, Maggye has been able to minister to people across the world with her God-given gift of a servant’s heart.

Maggye has made it her mission to share Jesus with others through her organization, Happy Ministries. The purpose of Happy Ministries, “Spreading the love and joy of Jesus to those in need.” Maggye faithfully listens to God as He reveals mission projects for her to do each month: feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, loving the lonely, seeing the invisible, and touching hearts with the Gospel.

God called Isaiah. He called Jeremiah. He called Maggye. He IS calling you. How will you answer? It doesn’t matter your age, whether you are seasoned or just a babe in Christ, God wants to use you.

We are all called to share Jesus, to be disciples and missionaries in some form. Some are called to give. Some are called to speak. Some are called to go. What are you called to do?

Here are a few ways to get started with a mission project: 1. Prayer should be your first step. Listen to the Lord and allow Him to lead you in your calling. 2. Know the demographics in the area you are serving. What are the needs/people groups? 3. Make a plan and set it in motion. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, so get moving! 4. Get others motivated about serving. Recruit volunteers to get your project off the ground.

For project ideas or how to help current projects reach out to Happy Ministries (amandaballknight@gmail.com) or General Baptist Women’s Ministries (kris.pratt@generalbaptist.com).