This Is My Story: Missions Stories from the Frontlines

Prayers

The Lord gave the Word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it.

Psalm 68:11

Prayer of Sir Francis Drake

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too

well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance

of things we possess,

We have lost our thirst for the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision of the new

Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show Your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back the horizons of

our hopes;

And to push into the future in strength,

courage, hope, and love.

Acknowledegements

Grateful thanks to all who contributed their stories. You are God’s faithful heroes, His excellent ones, in whom He delights! We highly esteem you.

Special thanks to Marilyn Stroud, PAOC Archives, for her contributions and patient assistance.

Foreword

I grew up listening to stories. Our house in Kenya was a place where new missionaries landed and veterans from remote places came for respite and a chance to get new supplies of food and other necessities. It was always a busy place, and since there was no TV, people talked, laughed and told stories. Later, as an adult missionary myself, our own home became a gathering place, a safe haven in the midst of many storms—a place to share stories.

Missionaries love to tell their stories. I remember hearing about elephants knocking down tents, spears thrown with intent that just missed people’s heads, vehicles stuck in the mud for hours, robberies during which God miraculously protected His servants and midnight escapes from countries experiencing civil war or military coups.

Then there were heartfelt stories about patience in the midst of turmoil, perseverance when facing opposition, revivals in which many people found the love of Jesus and miracles that left us wonder-struck by God’s greatness; stories about the gracious gift of life that transformed the lives of thousands of people who became followers of Jesus. All of them were part of God’s story.

God pursues all people—every language group, every tribe and every nation—with His love. This is not just a doctrine, it is the mission of a very personal God who so loved the world that He gave His own Son. But God’s story is always told through the lives of real people in real places. In this book are many stories from missionaries, shared with us so that we can give glory to God and rejoice with the angels that the Name of Jesus is being proclaimed.

These missionaries wouldn’t be satisfied if their stories didn’t point away from themselves and toward His story. That’s just who they are. It is always about God and His love and greatness.

These stories are told by simple people whose hearts long to be used by God. They have braved new worlds and cultures to bring life-transforming hope to everyone, everywhere, by every means. While there are moments of great adventure and of joy, it must also be noted that missionary life is often not an easy life. Living the life of a Spirit-filled, Jesus look-a-like, in the presence of people outside the family of faith is very demanding. These are people who go and live among the poor and the needy; they dwell among those who have not yet found the love of Jesus and may even be very hostile to the good news. Yet they are people who heard and responded. Pray for them! Support them! Love them!

...I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

"Whom shall I send,

And who will go for us?"

Then I said, Here am I! Send me.

(Isaiah 6:8b)

• Murray Cornelius, Assistant Superintendent, International Missions Department, PAOC

Introduction

They have stories to tell! They are men and women who took a step of faith and set out on a journey not knowing what was ahead of them, but just knowing that they had to go. Some of them heard a still small voice. Others were broken by the conditions of tremendously needy people or had a love placed in their hearts by God for a particular country. Many have God-given gifts and talents and a desire to use them to the greatest advantage. Some went willingly and joyfully, scarcely able to wait to get there; others went hesitantly, perhaps even fearfully. Some look back and are not even sure how they got there!

For many represented in this book, the missionary journey has ended. They have retired from missions, or perhaps gone on to their eternal reward, but they have left behind stories—a tremendous legacy with which to inspire us.

Missionaries are people like you and me; ordinary people, filled with God. One day they may feel tremendously confident, exclaiming, Lord, thank You for allowing me to be here! Other days, they may sink into a pit of depression and groan, Lord, what am I doing here? Often they may be overwhelmed with weakness, despairing over their apparent impotency in meeting the needs around them. But still—they went.

And now they are telling their stories. Not to show how spiritual they are—they would be the first to say that most of the time they are not—but to show who they are and what they do. Some have been intensely vulnerable in their sharing, exposing the depths of their hearts. Some have wanted you to view, through their eyes, the country and the culture in which they live. Others have desired to show you the brokenness in which many people in this world live—people they come in contact with every day. Many tell triumphant stories of transformed lives. And they all want you to see that they, just like you, are on a spiritual journey—one that is not yet complete.

So why should you read this book? Perhaps the question should be, why should you not read this book? Don’t read this book if you are content in your walk with the Lord—because you will be challenged to move to a new level in Him. You may be ruined with a new passion to see God’s Kingdom fulfilled on earth.

But if you’re convinced that you have been chosen by God to live in this moment in history for such a time as this, then read on. You will soon recognize that it is not so much about the miracles; it’s about a life sold out for God. It’s not so much about working in a country, with a project or a people; it’s the importance of personal obedience. It’s not who we are, so much as who we are becoming.

Read, not between the lines, but in the Spirit. Read as if this book is a personal directive from the Holy Spirit to you; and let your response be, "Lord, what are You saying to me?"

These are their stories. As you read them, will you ask, Lord, what’s my story? How is it being written? Is it one that is glorifying You; is it one flowing from the very self-sacrificing of my life?

Please take time to read the Scriptures placed in advance of the stories. The Word is alive and powerful. It reveals our thoughts and the intent of our hearts—so that we might be challenged and changed (Hebrews 4:12).

Personalize the concluding prayers, and use the reflective pages at the end of each theme as a catalyst to converse with the Lord. Take time to express to Him whatever is on your heart. And then listen for what He might say to you. It will probably be an opportunity to obey, so that you, too, can say,

I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. (Acts 26:19)

• Kathy Bousquet (thisismystory.book@gmail.com)

With All My Heart

For all the links in the chain,

O Lord my God,

That brought me to the story of the gospel;

I thank you, Father, with all my heart.

For Christ Himself, Author and Finisher of our faith;

For Christ who is Himself

The good news for all mankind;

I thank you, Father, with all my heart.

For saints and martyrs, teachers and evangelists,

For that apostolic company, and for Paul

Whose words I read today;

I thank you, Father, with all my heart.

And so it goes on; and always at a price.

In toil and labour, in pain and blood:

The good news spreads from place to place,

Generation to generation.

For all who shared the missionary task;

I thank you, Father, with all my heart.

And for my chance to be myself

A link in this great chain,

A bearer of the good news of Christ to other men;

I thank you, Father, with all my heart.

And may it be a heart of love, of joy and praise;

For Jesus’ sake.

Amen

Author unknown

God is pleased to unite His people with Himself in whatever He is about to do. He first of all leads them to pray, and then does what He intends in answer to their prayers. —Russell Elliott

God Working

Commemorating the ministry of C.W. and Emma Chawner, who were Canada’s first Pentecostal missionaries. In February 1908, they went to Africa to minister to the Zulus.

In Journeyings Often

I have been… in journeyings often, in perils of water… in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen…. (2 Corinthians 11:25, 26 KJV)

I was converted when 22 years of age, but I never saw in the Bible that I could—and should—live an overcoming life, so I stumbled much, grieving myself and others. However, 10 years after conversion, while reading Romans 12:1, my heart was deeply cut and I bowed in prayer before the Lord and gave myself to Him as a burnt offering.

We were living in the east end of Toronto where we found a small gathering of believers who met for worship in a vacant store, and we began to attend. It was there that the Holy Spirit manifested Himself in latter rain power. There, unexpectedly, I was baptized with the Spirit in accord with Acts 2:4.

Each morning there was worship for any who would come, and one morning after prayer, God told me that I should be among the Zulus of Africa, as he had need of me there.

Some were called of God and went to China. We went to Africa. Others went elsewhere. We felt the go and obeyed. And we were taught lessons of faith.

Once, we made our way to the east side of Zululand where we were with a tribe who spoke a dialect of Zulu that I didn’t know. Yet, they seemed to understand me. We stayed over Sunday, and I preached to many who sat under the trees. Then I went from hut to hut explaining the truth.

In one hut was an old couple. Both were feeble in body. The woman was partly blind. How my heart yearned for them. I told them that Jesus had gone to prepare nice homes for all who would believe on Him and that He would come to take them there. Both were interested but the old man said, It’s a nice story. But father is dead, and mother is dead. Why did you not come before? Oh, how those words pierced my heart.

While writing of Zulus an incident comes to my mind. I had travelled many miles from home, visiting villages and telling the story of Jesus and His love. About sundown I was in a hut sitting with Zulu men and women by a fire, as is their habit, speaking earnestly to them. Afterward, we prepared to rest and a woman spread a mat for me to lie on, and then they all went away.

I slept well, but early in the morning I heard a noise and peeping out from my blanket, I saw a woman pushing the wicker door open and she came in with sticks in her hand. I watched her as she scraped the white ash away from the remains of the fire. How would she light it? I wondered, for she had no matches. But I saw her lay some small sticks on the embers, then she blew on it and quickly there was a small flame, and then she put more sticks on the fire and out she went. It was kind of her. She wished to make her teacher comfortable.

What a lesson that dear woman’s action was to me! Yes, we must stir passion into flame—clear away the dead ashes of indifference—and welcome the Holy Spirit to blow upon the dying embers!

• Compiled from In Journeyings Often by C.W. Chawner: The Pentecostal Testimony, August 1938.

What Is a Missionary?

A missionary is one sent by Jesus Christ, as He was sent by God. The great dominant note is not the needs of men, but the command of Jesus. —Oswald Chambers

They’re Witches—Do Something to Them!

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)

As the team arrived at the mission home in Zambia, we were greeted with the news Tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day! Too exhausted from this day’s ministry, we sank into the chairs not really caring about tomorrow.

But as bedtime approached, curiosity got the better of me, and so the scenario was laid out for the next day’s adventure.

A message had arrived from one of the villages where the resident missionary has been working: the chief wants to see us. He has seven witches locked up in a makeshift jail. He has been granted a soldier from the government to guard the witches, but he knows that men cannot keep witches contained—so he has requested that these Christian visitors who are conducting services in his land come and visit with him.

We went to bed chilled in a hot country.

Early next morning the adventure began, as we climbed into the back of the vehicle with our daily supply of survival snack foods and Bibles in hand. The bumpy, rut-filled, virtually non-existent roads made it difficult to do much Bible reading, so we sang and prayed a lot.

Finally, the meeting with the chief. He came out in full garb; his attire was quite elaborate for such a hot country. We listened intently to his speech.

Bottom line: his village has had many problems with these witches. They have been killing so many people that the community lives in constant fear, and he is being forced to do something about it. He rounded up seven of the witches and has them contained with a soldier watching over them, but he knows that you can’t contain the powers of witches by locking them up, so visitors, I am inviting you to do something to them so they’ll change.

None of us had taken Witchcraft 101 in Bible school, so this challenge alarmed us all. He was serious, and we were now being led towards the holding station. It was a tense walk. I began scrambling for Bible verses, insisting that the rest of the team also quickly recall every verse they have ever read pertaining to God’s power over witchcraft.

As we stood before those witches, what the Word promises actually happened: Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it (Psalm 81:10b). God began to pour in words and Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit empowered us to stand boldly and declare with authority the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

After a few hours of this standoff and Holy Ghost declaration, five of them decided to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour and renounce their witchcraft practices. At last check, there were three churches in that village, and today I am certain more have sprung up from them. Some of those former witches have become the leaders in those churches.

Our God is faithful—He keeps His promises!

• Marie Miller, missionary/evangelist

Heavenly Father, I may not meet up with chiefs and witches, but there is need for overcoming power all around me. Teach me to stand firm on your promises!

The devil must yield ground before the believer who resists him with the delegated authority of the stronger than the strong. —R. Arthur Mathews

The Battle for a Church

…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Ephesians 6:16)

We are planting a church in Nitra, Slovakia. We have been in this city for a little over a year, and there is a solid core group of people attending. We meet in my living room, but we have already reached our capacity. So far we have looked at 16 promising places to hold the church. But at the last moment, someone, like the owner or a city official, vetoes the decision, pulling the rug out from under our feet. We know that God is for us and that He desires this city to be saved. This is a spiritual battle! There is a great spiritual darkness over Nitra. But things are changing.

Even where we are meeting sends a statement to the devil. My apartment is situated in the centre of town, three doors away from the most popular club in the city, Devil’s Pub. We are half a block away from the hub of all nightlife, behind the theatre—a symbol of humanism and where all kinds of evil takes place in the evening hours—and right down the street from the university dorms. And here we are, right in the centre, praising God with the windows open, declaring the Kingdom of God