I love it when writers I respect are saying the same things I am, more importantly, on this topic, missionaries are saying the same thing. I wrote a few weeks ago about an exchange with a World Magazine writer about the fact that we’re all called to be missionaries. A missionary subscriber took exception.

Well, not all professional missionaries want to be recognized as the only missionaries. Here’s a blog by Heather Holleman from October 4. It’s short, and I reproduce it in its entirety.

I’ve been thinking the past two days about people who seem to have that “missionary spirit.” I asked a wise woman about how surrendered she was in her life; she can go anywhere, sleep anywhere, eat anything, and sacrifice all her comforts to serve the Lord. And she has. She’s in her 70’s, and she pushes on with her “missionary spirit.” Then, the very next day, I met with a missionary about to leave for another country after living in 14 other ones. I told her that I’ve been thinking about special people who have that “missionary spirit. “

“I don’t buy that,” she said. “You’re a Christ-follower, so you are a missionary. You have a missionary spirit already. It’s not reserved for special people.”

I thought about her words all day long. I asked God to help me live more in alignment with that missionary spirit. I want to go anywhere and do anything with great joy. – Heather Holleman, October 4, 2023

“You have the missionary spirit already…I asked God to help me live more in alignment with that missionary spirit.” That will preach!

We just heard a sermon Sunday that Matthew 28.18 – 20 is built around “as you go” about your day-to-day life, make disciples. Amen.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore, as you go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28.18 – 20, NKJV, emphasis mine and changed slightly to match what the Greek scholars tell us is a better translation.)