It hit me in a different way that day.
The gathering of family and friends to commission this latest group of sent ones. Newly trained. Now on their way. To places all over the globe.
It hit me when I saw the expressions. On parents’ faces.
Pride. Joy. Grief. And for some—uncertainty. Perhaps, even anger.
The time had come. For releasing their kids and grandkids. To travel across oceans and borders. Into a new and different life of serving in another culture.
Letting go
The letting go. Hard when you don’t fully understand. Looking back, I remember the impact on family members releasing us into the unknown.
They had to surrender too.
And none of us had any idea of what lay ahead.
Mountain tops. Valleys. Wilderness. Dangers. Walls and barriers.
Personal struggles. Pride exposed–humbling and necessary.
Sent ones. Walking by faith. Sometimes in the palpable dark. But also with indescribable joy. Recognizing God at work in His mysterious ways. All around us.
We learned to abide in Christ through thick and thin.
Sent ones
After the service, families walked around campus. To see the place where their loved ones trained for weeks.
I listened. Watched.
One particular wall was a focal point on these impromptu tours. A wall with small name plates all lined up. Row after row. Names and dates.
A memorial. For sent ones who died on the field during their service to our King.
Sobering.
A life given
A handwritten letter, framed, hangs on the wall beside all the names. Written by a woman who left it behind in a sealed envelope. For her pastors to open in case she died overseas.
And she did. She was killed.
The letter is a witness to others. Of a life given, not taken.
That day, I watched as parents paused. Quietly reading the letter. Taking it in.
Pray
After everyone left, I walked down the quiet hall. Sun shining through the window. Illuminating faces of the unreached in photographs on the walls.
I prayed then and I pray now. For sent ones going to the nations. And those they leave behind.
Lord, bless them and keep them. Make Your face shine upon them. And be gracious to them.
Father, remind each one that Your steadfast love never fails. Your mercies are new every morning.
Fill their hearts with joy as they speak the gospel. Unashamed.
Great is Your faithfulness.
“Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
What about you?
How do you pray for sent ones? And their loved ones?
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5 replies on “Sent ones”
Love this word, Susan. Now that I’m in that category, I understand the struggles of those left behind. Yet, God is with us all — the sent ones and those left behind. He longs to teach them both new things about what it means to hold lightly to the things of this world, even if it’s our own children. Such events give us a new appreciation for the willingness of our father Abraham to lead his son to the altar in obedience. Thankful that we too have the confidence, that even if this sacrifice ends in death, God is able to raise from the dead! This is not the end of our story.
Amen, sister. Thank you for sharing from your own personal experience in this.
These weeks of hard things in my family while I am on the opposite side of the world bring back all these memories. Over & over, we let go and say good-bye. I feel the prayers of friends! I’m grateful for them!
We have sent from our church family and saw similar faces and heard similar stories from those that went as well as those left behind. Thank you for bringing a reminder to be faithful to continue to pray for those across the pond, as well as their families. And I agree, that wall is VERY sobering.
Thank you for sharing this. Grace and peace to you.