by Greg Mundis

—Life Happens--

Sometimes it doesn’t cross the mind of a person who supports missionaries that the missionary is more than a messenger. The missionary is more than a heavenly ambassador. The missionary is more than one who experiences miracles, the favor of God, and the salvation and healing of the people in countries to where they are called. It may not cross our minds that missionaries get sick, face heartache, have difficulty with their children, have marital issues, experience death in the family and, yes, the missionary dies.

Over the past several weeks one of our missionaries had to come home because of some serious health issues and could not be cared for in the country of their calling. Another missionary lost their father to cancer. Another missionary lost their father in an accident and the complications that followed. Another missionary lost their father to a long-term illness. Another missionary had a son in a terrible automobile accident and needed to come home. 

Are any of these people looking for extra sympathy because of their tragedy and pain? No, not really. They are not looking for sympathy but understanding. By understanding I mean a realization that these dear missionaries are also just ordinary people. They are individuals who leave their own country, language, family networks, friend networks, and culture and value system to share the gospel in what could be considered in the spiritual realm and sometimes in the physical realm a hostile environment. Just as “life happens” to many of us who live in the same neighborhood and are surrounded by familiarity and support networks of every imaginable shade, we know that life also happens to our missionaries. Many times we find, however, that their support networks are not as broad and deep as with a person who stays within their “system.”

I write not to enlist extra sympathy, empathy, compassion, or consideration nor do I write to complain. I write simply to raise awareness that these individuals who we commission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth are people like you and me. We all face crisis, tragedy, joy, and fear. We all lose people to death and sickness whom we love dearly. We all encounter the joys and pain of life. “Life happens.”

I write to ask we all consider that our world missionaries are people. Our prayers for them, a gentle word well-spoken, a pat on the back, or a kind well-timed note could be like drinking cool, fresh, sparkling water on a hot dry day. They are for the most part out of sight. I write to ask that they not be out of our minds. I write to ask that we blanket them in prayer.

Have a great day.

Greg Mundis
AGWM Europe Regional Director

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