Back in 2001 my young family boarded a plane to move to Peru
as missionaries. We were blessed with nearly
15 years of exciting and fruitful ministry in Peru. We did many of the things that traditional
missionaries do: We shared the Gospel
with people, we conducted Bible studies, we preached and taught in newly
started churches. We worked hard to disciple
new believers and guide them in their walk with the Lord. We saw souls saved, lives changed and
churches started in a biblical model that could be considered very similar to what
even the Apostle Paul promoted.
Somewhere along the line however, in some people’s minds, we apparently
stopped being “real missionaries.”
Things can change quickly.
On Sunday, June 15, 2014, just two weeks after having been given a clean
bill of health, my dear wife Debbie fell ill and in a matter of minutes nearly
died. In the coming days she was
diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease and she was medically evacuated
from Peru. We had plans to spend the
rest of our lives in Peru. We were in
the middle of forming a strategic plan to expand our ministry influence. We were searching for a location to begin our
next church. We felt like we were just
beginning to see real progress in our goal of reaching souls with the Gospel. For several months our lives were in
chaos. Time flew by as we carried on in
survival mode. Life was filled with
hospital visits, doctor appointments, medical tests and new medications. When Debbie’s health was finally stable and
the long-term prognosis was given we realized our lives had been changed
forever. Returning to Peru was not a
viable option. We began to ask, “What
does God have planned for us?” Our
hearts grieved over the loss of our future in Peru. Would God give us a new passion for ministry
in a new area like we had in Peru? Were
we still missionaries?
Our story has been repeated in similar ways in the lives of
many of EBI’s staff members. Almost
every EBI missionary has on-the-field experience in a foreign land. Several EBI missionaries were on the field
when a health crisis brought them home.
Others had their steps directed by the Lord in unique circumstances to
bring them here. Only one couple began
their journey in missions planning from the start to be EBI missionaries. As first glance, the ministries of EBI might
not sound as exciting as some other mission fields. A pin on a mission’s map
showing central Florida doesn’t look especially impressive. Yet, God is using EBI to impact lives in about
three dozen Spanish speaking countries. EBI
is special. Unlike any other training
and publishing ministry, our entire staff is made up of missionaries sent out
and supported by local churches. Yes! We really are missionaries.
What exactly is a missionary? Dictionary.com defines a missionary as, “a
person sent by a church into an area to carry on evangelism, a person strongly
in favor of a program or set of principles, who attempts to persuade or convert
others, a person who is sent on a mission.”
After returning from Peru my family had to come to terms with our new
position as stateside missionaries. Were
we still missionaries? Was God done
using us? We had to adapt from being
considered missionary heroes to becoming missionary servants simply because our
location changed. Over time, God gave us
a real peace about EBI. We have seen the
Lord working in incredible ways and opening doors of opportunity for this
ministry like never before. Missions in
Latin America is in a new, important phase.
After decades of diligent missionary work, the foundation has been laid
for great growth. Thousands of churches
have been started and national pastors are now in place to help grow the
work. EBI is strategically placed to
come alongside these national workers and provide them with the tools they need
to reach their land with the truth of God’s Word.
While we no longer spend our days in a foreign land we do
have a clear belief that God wants us here.
Each of us, before coming to EBI, gained valuable experience in a
different culture, with a different language and with different
circumstances. His plan is always perfect
and He has brought together a team that is effectively serving together to
expand the reach of the Gospel in the Latin world. Our ministries are training national workers
and providing the materials that churches need to grow. While we may no longer fit the mold of what
the world considers a “real missionary” I can confidently say I work with a
great team of missionary servants that must certainly be pleasing the Lord with
their lives. It’s a joy that God has
shown each of us here that we can still be “real missionaries” right where He
placed us. May we all be faithful in the
opportunities God brings our way, no matter where we are!
