Being Sent

On Sunday night, my church in Plano held a commissioning service for me as a way to send me off to Cambodia. I had the chance to share the journey of God’s calling and the vision that He has given my teammate and me for His glory to be revealed in this country. My boss, and the church’s missionary in residence, Kent, shared a charge to me and also to the church. At the end, everyone gathered around to lay hands on me and pray. I was amazed at God’s goodness and the encouragement He provided through this service. I know that each person there and many others in the church will be praying for God’s healing and transformation in the lives of the Khmer people, and for Kristin and me and others as we go. Jesus commissioned the disciples in Matthew 28. Each of us are sent out, compelled by the Gospel, to be ministers of reconciliation. It doesn’t matter if we are sent to Norfolk, Nebraska, or Plano, Texas; Cambodia or Indonesia; Africa or the Middle East. We are not sent out alone either. We have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts to give the right words and strength to love. We also need each other. I am very independent but in this journey of getting ready for Cambodia I have realized like never before how God works through His people to provide for my needs. We have the responsibility and opportunity to go before the throne of God on behalf of one another in our mission as God’s sent ones. What an exciting thing to be on this journey together!

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.