It was the fall of 2008, at a Baptist church in Romania. It happened right after the Sunday morning service; I presented to that church the people and the needs of Malawi, but also our desire to obey the will of God and to go there immediately.
We were married for only one year. Jessica, our daughter born in Romania, was only 3 months old, and Lita was one month pregnant with Aimee, our second daughter that would be born on the mission field in Malawi. We did not have a house or an apartment in our name and we did not have a car. We did not even have money for a plane ticket or money to live month by month in Africa. All we had was a sincere desire to listen to the general will of God as we find it in the Word of God ("And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15) and the specific will of God for our life, that is, to go to Malawi.
The service that Sunday was wonderful, the way it should be every time God’s children come together. We had the privilege to give a short power point presentation and to ask the church to come with us on this adventure.
God worked in a wonderful way, the way He always does, and the church decided to stand with us and even today, after six years, it is still standing with us.
After the service I stayed out in the courtyard for a good while, talking with brothers and sisters. Most of them encouraged us and promised to keep us in their prayers, others cried in sympathy but one brother called me "a fool":
- "Brother Ovidiu, what you are doing is not good. If you go to Africa you will be proving that you are a fool and irresponsible. How can you take the family that you just started to a place where you can die at any time? Your responsibility, as the husband, is to assure a home and a certain amount of security and stability to your family. You will have time for ministry later."
Looking back now I realize that he was right in a way. It is true that the world these days has these priorities. In the first place, after starting a family, comes the following: a house, a car and a job. Many times these things are in place before marriage, because they are now an unofficial requirement. These days, children come later, sometimes much later, because the young family needs to "settle" first. Today, foreign missions are not as important; the young family is trying to find their place in a church that knows, loves and appreciates them. In time they will be involved actively in worship or with the teens, but only in the limits of the time available.
This is just about the definition of Christianity today and the starting of a new family. That is why when someone like me comes along with a plan that is so different, he is considered courageous, a super-saint, an adventurer or just plain crazy. The truth is that we are no different than anybody else. We are no holier than others; it’s actually the opposite. We are not adventurers. We do not consider ourselves to be the favorites of God or closer to Him than others. Foreign missions are not reserved for those that are special; it is just a reasonable service. Jesus did not call super-humans to go with Him to preach the Gospel; He called the ones that wanted to obey.
He does not call the equipped, but He equips the called. In a Christianity that is focused on safety, stability and control, God calls people to go through faith, just like he once called Abraham.
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee" Genesis 12:1.
"So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him;" Genesis 12:4.
Yes, from this point of view, the brother was right. I was like a fool to make such a decision, but I was a fool for Christ. We can certainly die here in Africa, and there are certainly more ways to die here, but the cold hard truth is that we could also die in Romania! We do not have to be in a dangerous place to die, it is possible to die even in your sleep.
My wife likes this quote that is so significant:
"It is better to be with God in a dangerous place, then without Him in a place of safety.”
If we are Christians, we are no longer our own, He bought us and we now belong to Him. His purpose becomes our purpose, and His plans become our plans. His wishes become ours and His heartache for the lost becomes our burden. Here on earth we are nothing more than strangers and travelers. Material things have an inferior place, because we live to serve and to enlarge His kingdom. Any other mentality about life comes from our own ego and it is sin and disobedience.
So, yes, in a generation where the foreign missions subject is no longer in the place where Jesus left it, we are fools. Fools for Jesus.
When my wife’s father came to visit us for the last time, his words were very important. He was suffering from terminal cancer and we all knew that it would be the last time we would see him. Those last couple of days with him were the most difficult, we absorbed every word he spoke to us. He knew that he would be leaving soon and he chose his words carefully in order of their importance. On that last day we did not talk about politics or sports but about things that were truly important: the will of God, plans for the preaching of the Gospel and his love for us.
Before the Lord Jesus went to heaven, He gave a very important commandment. Unlike our words, every word of God’s is important, but this last commandment was special, and the disciples knew it.
"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:14-16.
On that last day there was no time for laughing or things of lesser importance. On the last day Jesus showed his concern for the lost. As far as teaching, he taught them, as far as reprimanding, he reprimanded them! Now at the end there was something very important and something for which all eleven would die: The Evangelization of the world!!
If the last words of a man are so important, how important should the last words of Jesus Christ be to us?
"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven...." Mark 16:19.
Yes, I admit that we are fools: fools for believing the words of Christ. Fools for Christ.
Maybe even the disciples were considered to be fools. They also believed Him and obeyed. They went and preached the Gospel throughout the world. They did not stay, because the last orders are to be fulfilled until the Commander gives more orders. “Go ye” "GO"!
"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:20.
Did you notice their first step? "And they went”. The Lord Jesus was going to be with them and He would strengthen their message through signs, but it was necessary for them to listen and obey. It was necessary for them to get up off their chair and take the first steps.
How many Christians today think about lost souls? Was this not Jesus’ goal? Is it not our duty to bring Him the ones for which He died?
"For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." Matthew 18:11.
If a shepherd has 100 sheep and he looses one, doesn’t he leave the 99 and go look for the lost sheep?
We expect the lost sheep to come to church or to evangelizations! It will not happen.
We wait for God to put them in our path! It will not happen.
The one that really cares for the lost will leave everything and will go to look for them. The Lord Jesus did this! The Apostles did this! The first Christians did this! People throughout history did this! The Cornea family has done this! What will you do?
Yes, we are fools. Fools for standing against what is normal in Christianity today. Fools for going against the "current": Fools for Christ.
I want to tell you something. If what we have done is foolishness, then you are called to the same thing: not only you, but also all Christians. If you understand the Gospel (the Good News), then you will understand that it is not for those that are saved, it is the Good News for those that do not know it. The Gospel is a missionary Gospel. It is the Good News for those places and people where the name of Jesus is not yet known.
Whatever your ambitions may be, they are insignificant. Throw them away, get rid of them and take on God’s ambition. Go and preach the Gospel to every creature. Enlarge the kingdom of God! Fill heaven with new people!!
The call of Christ is not just an active one; it is an urgent one! Over 50,000 people die every day without Christ! Hell is getting full, and we have a duty to fill heaven.
This generation of Christians (you and me) are responsible for this generation of lost people. If we do not tell them then their blood will be on our hands.
"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few" Matthew 9:37.
"The fields are white unto harvest
But O, the laborers are so few.
So Lord, I give myself to help the reaping
To gather precious souls unto You."
Christianity these days can be compared to ten people that are carrying a heavy log on their shoulders. On one end of the log there are nine people and on the other end there is only one. The 9 symbolize the church, and the only one symbolizes missionaries.
If you, dear reader, want to be involved, on what end will you help?
Every year, tens of thousands of Christians help on the wrong side of the log. They are helping, just not where the need is greatest. If you are a youth leader or if you are part of a worship team, the cold truth is that you will be replaced if you leave. Maybe you even know two or three young people that could take your place and do as good of a job as you, or maybe an even better one.
In our work here in Malawi, if we were to leave, a large part of the ministry would come to a stop. At this time there is nobody that can take our place and I am sure that this is true for most missionaries out there.
Do you want to do something really important? Do you want to make a difference somewhere? Come to Malawi.
Yes, I know what such a decision means. I have been there, and if it came to it, I would make the same decision again and again. I know that it is not easy, but He has promised to be with you: "the Lord (was) working with them" Matthew 16:20. He is working with us and will work with you! There is one thing that you are lacking in this moment: faith! Not money, not sponsors and not the approval of others, just faith!
If you have ever thought of foreign missions maybe you have thought of Africa. I want to tell you that your dream can become a reality.
Malawi is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa. The people are friendly and smiling. They will appreciate what you do and they will rejoice when you help them. From many points of view it is the perfect place to start your walk with God. It does not matter if you are single or if you have just started a family; all that matters is if you want to obey.
Our ministry is called Hope for the Future. It is officially registered with the government of Malawi as a religious organization. Biblically and legally you will have the right to do what the Lord has called you to do! Nice, isn’t it?
We can place at your disposal (or your families’) an apartment completely furnished with the basics. You will have running water, hot showers, electricity, protection and liberty to be…a fool for Christ.
The missions’ house is at the base of Zomba Mountain and the location is perfect. The center of town is only a 15-minute walking distance, but far enough to not be bothered by the sound of cars. The mission grounds are full of green growing things, grass and trees, the perfect place to study or admire nature created by God here in Africa. Magnificent, isn’t it?
Because we are at the base of the mountain, during the dry season, the temperature does not get so high as to not be bearable. During the rainy season the mountain offers good protection from the wind. Can you imagine a more beautiful place?
What can you do here? According to the gifts that God has put in you, you can work with children, teen or adults (men, women or both). You will be able to work with those in the village or those in town, with those that are free or with those that are in prison. You will be able to work with Christians or the lost, Muslims, Catholics, Hindu or the traditional African pagans.
If you can’t decide we can guide you.
This article would not be complete if I did not present the other side of the coin. In every war there are at least two important lines and they both need the other. On the front line we have the soldiers, the ones that go to battle and assume the greater risk. The second line is the provision line, or the support for the soldiers: food, ammunition, weapons, medicine, encouragement etc. The soldiers need the ones that give provisions, but the provisions people also need the soldiers. If the battle is going to be won then there needs to be people on both lines.
We Christians are waging a war. God created every inch of this earth but Satan rules it. Our battle is not for the earth but it is for people’s souls. God also created people, but they are in slavery to Satan and if we do not do anything about it then they will go to hell: 50,000 a day.
Maybe you do not want to leave everything and go as a missionary. Maybe you know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the Lord did not call you to be on the front line in this war. In this case I have another calling for you: to be in the provisions line. We need you; God needs you! You need it.
Everything we have is not ours; it belongs to the Lord. The best way to invest your money is in things that will last for eternity.
I will respect you and tell you directly: the work in Malawi needs your help, from the line of provisions. It is a well-known fact that Christians spend more money on dog food then they spend on missions. In that context we do not have any way to evangelize the world…
Dear reader, I pray that the Spirit will work in your heart as you read this. Whoever you are, wherever you are, God needs you, the work in Malawi needs you, lost and dying souls need you.
I pray that you will become (if you are not already) a soldier or at least one that gives provision to the soldiers, because in this battle there is only one other category: the deserters.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:18-21.
This article is written by Ovi Cornea, missionary to Malawi, Africa. This article can be posted on blogs, other sites or mediums and printed only in full and with the proper acknowledgments.
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Labels: call to missions, fools for Christ, Hope for the Future, Malawi, missionaries, missions
