David Nitschmann & Leonard Dober
were the first Moravian missionaries.
The three principles I left off with are:
- We freely GIVE to the world out of the riches freely GIVEN to us in Christ.
- Every man's life & labor is important, and not less than that of the preacher.
- We must train every believer how to be a light (a missionary) where he is.
Examples from History
Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) spent her life savings on passage to China in 1930. She served the Chinese government as a "foot inspector," enforcing the laws against the traditional Chinese custom of footbinding young girls. In this position, she traveled the countryside, and served successfully in a field that often met with resistance & sometimes violence against the inspectors. She was highly revered by the people because of her care for orphans, even adopting several herself, and for her intervening in a prison riot & advocating prison reform. She risked her life many times to help those in need.
When the Japanese invaded her region of China (1938), Gladys led 94 orphans to safety, though wounded herself. She returned to England for a time, and was later denied entry to China by the new communist government, so she served her remaining years running an orphanage in Taiwan. Though not a preacher, she served Christ with the gifts he had given her, and gave her life in that service. Such service "adorns the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2.10), and puts the Gospel into shoe-leather so that men may see the glory of Christ.
“My business is to witness for Christ.
I make shoes to pay my expenses.”
--William Carey
David Nitschmann (a carpenter) & Leonard Dober (a potter) were the first Moravian missionaries. They heard about the slaves on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, who needed the Gospel. Antony Ulrich, a believer who was a black slave from the West Indies, told them of the need there, and told them that they'd have to become slaves themselves in order to bring the Gospel.
Willing even to become slaves, Dober & Nitschmann went to the Danish crown for permission to travel to St. Thomas. The crown was already sending out missionaries as state officials, strengthening its colonial policies. However, these men were being sent by a church alone, and as such were laughed at & violently opposed. When asked how they would support themselves, they responded, "We shall work as slaves among slaves." They were informed that it would be impossible for them to become slaves. Since pottery was not really useful in St. Thomas, Nitschmann would work as a carpenter, and Dober would assist him. Eventually, they gained the favor of the Danish court, and were helped on their way to St. Thomas. God blessed their labors, and churches were born on many of the islands.
Examples from Today
I know a man who is going to medical school in a third-world country, so that he can use those skills in missions without the massive debt attached with American schools.
One American wanted to reach out to the Hispanic people in his area, so he took a second job (not needing the income) working as a dishwasher in a Mexican restaurant, in order to help him learn Spanish & build relationships with some Hispanic people.
I also know a family starting a business in a country otherwise closed to Gospel, in order to help the people economically, and to tell them about Jesus.
Another friend uses his building skills to help various mission works.
Some Korean women are taking jobs as domestic servants in foreign households (among a culture hostile to Christianity), for the purpose of bringing the Gospel to these families.
These are just a few examples of ordinary men & women, who gave & are giving their lives to bring the Gospel to others. They make the gifts & training they have serve the Kingdom of Christ.
Putting the Word into Practice
How do I live? Is this my life to do with as I please; to fulfill my own purposes; to carry out my own plans; to care for & provide for myself & my family; to pursue my own interests; etc.--as long as I add Christ to my life, so that I secure my eternal well-being?
No, we do not add Christ to our life; he has added us to his life! "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body & in your spirit, which are God's." (1Corinthians 6.19,20; cf. 2Cor 5.14,15; Rom 12.1,2) Christ added us to his life, so that we might please him, fulfill his purposes, carry out his plans, provide for his family, pursue his interests.
It is not that we have anything to offer Christ, or bring anything to him by becoming his followers. Christ does not save us because of what we have to offer him by our skills, knowledge, abilities or gifts. Everything we are & have is a gift from God; by using it for his glory, we are simply requiting his love, returning thanks & giving him his due. And every such response in us is itself a gracious gift from God, worked in us by the Spirit for his glory. Therefore, I labor out of God's grace to me, and I labor by God's grace in me.
Notwithstanding, let us examine our hearts: are we using our lives in service to Christ, his mission & glory; or are we using Christ to serve our own mission & glory?
In Shoe-Leather
Beyond what has already been suggested by the examples above, here are some ways you can use your skills, knowledge, abilities & gifts to serve Christ's Kingdom.
Are you a highly-trained professional (e.g., engineer, scientist, college professor, doctor, businessman, etc.)? Take your profession to a people who don't have the Gospel. Live & work among them. Train them, and help them develop that profession among their own people. And while you're at it, give them the Gospel, and plant churches among them.
Are you retired with time on your hands? Use the time you have left to serve Christ. Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, hospital, or homeless shelter. Disciple a young believer in your church. Plant a church in your neighborhood, or move to a needy neighborhood & plant one. Take your skills to another country, and train people there, or work with a missionary, helping in whatever way you can.
Are you single with great freedom of movement? Move to the "dangerous" area of your town, so you can tell them about Jesus. Take a short-term, mid-term or long-term foreign missions trip, so you can help an experienced missionary in the work, and be better prepared to serve later. Serve foreign missionary families by helping with their kids, or serve in a foreign orphanage. Study in a foreign school, and spread the Gospel while you're there.
Do you speak English? Become a friend to foreign students in your area; welcome them into your home & family; help them practice their English; put them up during school holidays; etc. Get training in teaching English as a second language, and teach it virtually anywhere in the world. Meanwhile give the Gospel wherever you go.
Are you married with children? This is where I am now. Yes, there's a need for you, too. Don't pursue a career, build your nest-egg, indulge your children, and fill your storage units. Rather give the strength of your youth to serving Christ. Serve in your community, or in some foreign field. Demonstrate for your children that following Christ means you live for him, and serve others. Involve your children in whatever you do, so they see fully every aspect of living for Christ in a fallen world--joys, sorrows, persecutions, prayers, hopes, etc. They'll see the Gospel by your life & hear it from your lips, as you serve & give it to others. Disciple them fully, so that they are prepared to serve Christ with every fiber of their being when they do believe. If they never follow Christ, still they'll know for sure that mom & dad had the real thing.
Whatever you are or have, use it to serve Christ & his Kingdom. Isn't he worth it! When simple followers of Christ evangelize, churches are born (e.g., Antioch--see Acts 11.19-26).
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