“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”
Jesus, to His disciples (John 15:18)
One of the benefits of working with Feed the Hunger is the seemingly constant flow of visitors through our headquarters office. Some like to bring donations in person, some just come to say “Hi” and see how things are going, and others come to do volunteer work. There may even be a few who stop by to see if we do any “real work” when we’re not at a Packathon (believe it or not, we do!).
We’re grateful for all these visitors, but the ones I want to talk about today are in yet another group. Every now and then, we receive a visit from one of our ministry partners we support or have supported. Many are from other countries or minister in areas of the United States that may seem like another country. When I hear about an upcoming partner visit, I look forward to the blessing I will receive when I hear their updates and stories.
So far this year, we have had special visits from those working in Brazil, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Mali, and South Dakota (yes, South Dakota). I don’t think I’ve left any out, but if I have, I apologize in advance! One thing these partners have in common is that they encounter on almost a daily basis hardship and spiritual warfare because of their calling.
Jennifer “Jungle Jen” Foster has been working among the unreached tribes in the Amazon and has to deal with resistance both from inside the tribes (some of it from false teachings by “missionaries”) and from a government that seeks to keep these tribes from hearing the Gospel. If you’ve ever gotten the chance to talk to Jen, you’ll hear about how intense prayer is the only thing that has brought her through trial after trial.
Then there are our dedicated partners in Haiti who feed and minister to thousands of children every day, all year long. Haiti is the spiritual home of voodoo and the physical home of pervasive governmental corruption. (Think there may be a link between the two?) Even doing practical things can be difficult. During a brief visit this spring, we were able to send one of our partners back with a critical but unobtainable item: a part to fix the ministry truck so he could continue to help those in need.
Our Sri Lankan partner, Ranjan, told us of hostility and persecution by militant Buddhist monks (not all monks, however) in addition to the abject poverty experienced by the children he helps feed and equip. In case you’re wondering, he doesn’t pay much attention to the resistance he encounters; he just keeps going in the strength of Christ.
Vietnam. Just to hear the stories from Pastor M about narrowly surviving the war as a child, his conversion to Christianity, and the times he was sent to prison because of his faith are enough to stop any American Christian in their tracks. Even now we don’t use his full name because of ongoing threats against him. What he has endured at the hand of an atheistic, Communist government reminded me of things I had heard and read about Christian martyrs throughout history. He told us that, when face-to-face with an armed officer intent on keeping him from church, he had no fear, but reminded the officer that all he could do was kill him—he couldn’t take his salvation!
Just a couple of weeks ago we had the privilege of meeting with Pastor Yattara and some of his family. He is a Christian leader in the African nation of Mali, home of Timbuktu (really, look it up!). A few years ago, his entire town was overrun by Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic terrorists. To avoid being killed, he and the other leaders paid an exorbitant fee to rent a bus that carried the women and children to safety. They still live in exile today, but have moved on with life and continue to teach Jesus Christ to the next generation.
Finally, one of our US-based partners and his family stopped by for a visit, all the way from South Dakota. There he works on Pine Ridge Reservation among the Lakota people. It is one of the darkest places in America spiritually, and recently, a young man was even killed for trying to expose the deception used in the pagan rituals practiced by some on “the Rez.” However, several new churches have been planted in and around the reservation, offering a new source of hope for the lost people there.
If you’ve read this far, you’ve no doubt noticed that ministry can be challenging, discouraging, and even dangerous at times. But there is a purpose for all of this. We are to bring the message of Jesus to the world, because, as He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). If you want a historical perspective on this, read Hebrews 11, commonly called “The Faith Chapter.” Some of the same things that happened to the prophets, apostles, and disciples in the Bible still happen today to those who are unashamedly living out their faith around the world.
I suppose that, if asked, all the FtH partners mentioned above could identify with the believers in Revelation 12 who withstood Satan and witnessed his ultimate downfall. Verse 11 says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Are we able to identify with this as well? If you are a believer in Christ, whether or not you serve in a “dangerous” place, you should consider yourself a missionary sent to tell others about Jesus. Just follow the example of our ministry partners and get on with it!
Matthew Byrd | Ministry Advancement Team