“God bless America!” It’s a patriotic phrase we love to say and hear, especially during certain times of the year. And God has blessed America. The principles of biblical Protestantism at its foundation have brought relative peace and prosperity throughout the years. As the birthplace of Adventism, our beloved land has been flooded with spiritual light for two centuries.

But what about all the other countries of the world? What about the war-torn Middle East or poverty-stricken Africa? What about the billions who have never heard the name of Jesus, let alone seen a glimpse of His beautiful character? What about all those who have never even met a Christian or laid their eyes on a Bible?

I have many friends who declare they have been called to work for God in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. It is true—there are always needs across the street that are often neglected. There is a great work to be done in liberating people from the chains of addiction, debt, worry and fear. I know. I have fought in that warfare. It is real. People are broken and need healing and hope. But could it be that our “calling” is more dictated by our desire for comfort and security rather than God’s desire to bring peace to His children?

If God has, in fact, called 99 percent of His children and their financial resources to stay in a place saturated with a thousand versions of the gospel, then I say that God isn’t fair. It isn’t fair for the countries where Christianity flourished to keep all the blessings to themselves.

My Bible paints a different picture. It says Jesus would leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one lost sheep. I cannot accept the suggestion that this same God would call the majority of His children to stay where Christianity is the most prevalent religion and leave all the rest of His dear ones clueless of the hope and peace they could have.

You do not have to be a doctor, teacher, or nurse to be a missionary. You just have to be willing to go where Christ is not known and work as He worked. We are told, “The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me’” (Ministry of Healing, p. 143).

Who will follow the Savior? Who will go? Will you?

If you would like more information about becoming a Career Missionary, Student Missionary or Short-term Missionary with Adventist Frontier Missions, please email us at service@afmonline.org.

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