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Facing the Call

Don Trott with Angela Shuff

Moses was tending his father-in-law’s sheep when he saw a bush in flames. Can you picture this divine interruption during that ordinary day on Mount Horeb?

Phenomenally, the bush was not consumed by the fire, and the wonder of it sparked Moses’ curiosity and held his attention. As Moses squinted into the flames, he heard a voice in the branches speak his name. “Moses, take off your shoes.”

Then, standing there, with bare feet in the hot sand and with knees knocking in fear, he was called by Yahweh to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptians.

Even though God was audibly speaking to him and demonstrating His glory through this miracle, Moses was full of excuses about why he wasn’t the best choice for the job.

Encountering the Almighty

If God spoke to us through an oak tree in our front yard, we would stand tall as obedient soldiers and raise our eyes heavenward. Wouldn’t we?

We criticize Moses for his doubting reaction to God’s presence on the mountain that day, but when we are confronted with God’s leading in our lives, how do we respond? The call to missions is not an easy one to answer. And how do you really know if you’ve been “called”?

We might not see a burning bush, but the God of the Old Testament is still the same God today, and we should still tremble when He moves. He can use unusual and unexpected occurrences to cause us to stop and ask, “God, what are you saying?” New missionary Andrew Patton was greatly impacted by the Bower’s tragedy in 2001. He says, “My desire to do missions was rekindled when Roni Bowers and her daughter were killed as a result of their plane being shot down over Peru.” This tragedy touched the hearts of Andrew and his wife Carol, leading them to be involved in the construction of the Roni Bowers Memorial Sports Complex in Peru.

More often than not, God wonderfully uses His Word to light a fire in the hearts of His children. This was true in my own life when as a senior in high school, I (Don) wrestled to answer the question in Romans 10:14, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” In the quietness of my room, I found that obviously they can’t and that God wanted to use me.

For years, new missionary James Seffinga was not sure if he had the “call.” After his pastor preached a series on knowing the will of God, he came to the encouraging conclusion that a call is more like a process. James says, “God places a desire in our hearts. He shows us a need. Then He leads our lives, preparing us to be able to meet that need. Finally, He confirms His will as we take steps to pursue the desire to serve.” The Seffingas are following the Lord’s leading with steps of obedience. They were a part of the 2006 Candidate Class and are now headed to Peru.

Including the Pattons and Seffingas, eighty-one people from many walks of life have dedicated their lives to missionary service this year. They attended the 2006 Candidate Seminar, have been appointed by ABWE, and are ready to be sent out by their local churches. These new missionaries have had their own encounters with God—their own burning bush experiences that have led them to this place.

Feeling the Heat

Through the burning bush, God said, “Moses, I want you to go to Pharaoh, and this is what you’re to do.”  Moses looked around and turned his thoughts inward, “Who me? But, they won’t believe me. I can’t speak. Can’t you send someone else?”

Missionary candidates come to ABWE believing that God is leading them and feeling the excitement of a whole new venture set before them. However, they also worry that things might fall apart in light of the great fear that grips their hearts. When they first come to ABWE, at least 50 percent of them do not know what field they should go to or what ministry God could use them in. They have a lot of questions. “Am I capable of learning another language? Can I adapt to another culture? Do I have sufficient Bible knowledge? Will ABWE accept me? What about my children?  

Is God saying to these, “No, you’re not to go into missions,” or is He saying, “Look, jump out of the boat. I’m going to take you through the deep water.”

At this point in his life, after having killed the Egyptian and been rejected by the Israelites, Moses was brokenhearted, extremely discouraged, and burdened by an extremely low self-image. “Lord you know I can’t speak,” he said, yet Stephen (in Acts 7:22) and Josephus the historian state that Moses was an eloquent orator. People would travel to Pharaoh’s court just to hear him and possibly get a glimpse of him. 

Some of this year’s candidates have testified that before feeling the peace of surrender, they felt a lot like Moses on Mount Horeb. Janell Yingling admits, “I used to feel God wasn’t going to use me or send me, because I wasn’t good enough.”

We are fine rationalizers. It’s easy to dodge the heat and convince ourselves why God doesn’t want us on the mission field, because we know that surrendering our lives to missions requires living by faith.

Patiently Prepared

In Egypt, Moses was a wealthy and powerful man with much authority, but God left him in the wilderness for forty years to teach him a few things. He had to step down from all of the amenities of the court into a desert setting in order to eventually lead the children of Israel in a horrible situation for forty years. Learning to live a nomadic life, not knowing where food or drink would come from, probably caused him to have moments of doubt, wondering what God was up to.

This year’s missionary appointees have all been prepared by God in different ways. Some have been trained to be nurses and teachers and plan to use these skills to open doors for ministry. Others have gone through incredibly hard times, and God has taught them to trust and totally depend on Him, necessary traits for those in ministry.

Jeffrey Davoll states, “At seven years of age, I committed my life to missionary service. I have not always understood God’s delay in sending us as missionaries, but I know I needed more maturity and training, so I’m thankful for the patient path of preparation He has laid. ”

Phillip Schlener says he rests in the promise of Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Schlener says, “We go by faith, knowing God is going to do just that.”

Going with Promise

Through the glowing flames, God made His promise clear, “Moses, I will be with you when you go to Pharaoh.” He showed Moses signs and wonders, manifesting that He would do things for Moses that Moses didn’t even anticipate.

Today, God still sends His servants into ministry with His power at their disposal. Being in law enforcement, Ronnie Powell, a new appointee to Thailand, knows what it feels like to be respected by association, because of the uniform he wears. He says, “Just like the disciples in Acts 4:20 were recognized as having been with Jesus, when we go out into the world, it is with His authority that we go.”

After Moses asked, “Who am I that I?should go to Pharoah?” God replied, “I will certainly be with you.”  In the New Testament God says to us exactly what He said to Moses. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:20 ends with, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God used the story of Moses and the burning bush to get the attention of a new ABWE missionary to Muslims. She says, “Who was I to say I was not good enough to serve Him? It was as if God were saying, ‘Stop looking at yourself, and look at who I AM.

An Urgent Mission

The children of Israel were being destroyed and enslaved by the Egyptians, when God intended for them to possess the Promised Land, making Moses’ mission imperative. Likewise, man without Christ is enslaved to sin and separated from God, which makes our mission just as undeniably urgent.

From just a glance at the world’s situation, we believe that the plot is winding down. War over Israel continues to rage. The United Nations estimates that there are currently 14 million AIDS orphans, and by the year 2010 there will be 25 million. Current researchers indicate that well over 6,500 people groups comprising over 2.5 billion people fit into the category of severely to completely unreached with the gospel. The return of the Son is imminent, and we are to be watching and working until He comes.

Richard Peace was burdened for missions about seven years ago when Dr. Michael Loftis spoke at his church’s missions conference and asked the congregation to write three words on an index card and put it in their Bibles: whatever, wherever, whenever. After continuing in chiropractic practice for several years, God led Richard to participate in a short-term medical trip and then other trips to Romania, Ukraine, and Kenya. In his testimony, Richard says, “This January, early one morning I was walking around the campground in Africa, and I found myself crying out to God praying those three words again: whatever, wherever, whenever. I believe the whenever is now.”

Take Off Your Shoes

“Holy ground” is not some geographical place or a patch of dirt somewhere in Sinai. Perhaps, holy ground is anywhere God meets you, His child, in a real and profound way. It could be a campground in Africa, a pew during a missions conference, or even your living room as you read God’s Word and cry out for His leading in your life. I encourage you to get alone with God. Take a good look at how He has prepared you—your academic education, training, experiences, the gifts He has given you, and finally, your burning passions. Then ask the Lord to show you where and how you can use these things to the fullest for His glory.

Perhaps you feel a little bit like Moses. Is God tugging at you to step out in faith and carry His message of deliverance to people of any nation or tribe? If so, unbuckle your sandals, bow your head in awe of His power to equip you, and take the next step with joyful obedience. He promises to go with you!


“At times people in the United States talk about how difficult it must be to be a missionary and how much a person must give up. Let me tell you: If a person wants ever-expanding horizons, brand new experiences, and a front row seat as God does things that are beyond the imagination—the mission field is the place to be.” —Sharon Rahilly, Togo.


GO
ABWE has short-term opportunities available for high school students, college students, and adults, or you can talk to one of our staff members about career service (717-774-7000). Visit our website to get a glimpse of what ABWE is doing around the world and how you can be involved. www.abwe.org/serve

PRAY
Use this issue of the magazine to pray for the 2006 missionary appointees. They will begin the process of raising support and preparing for the field.