by Erich Bridges, posted Friday, May 16, 2014 (10 years ago)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (BP) -- Jessica Wolfe's life changed forever on her first international missions trip nearly a decade ago.
IMB Photo by Thomas Graham
"I had the opportunity to share Jesus with a college student in Asia who asked me, 'Who is Jesus?'" Wolfe recalled. "After being asked that question, the Lord began to tug on my heart to reach out to those in the world who had never heard His name. It broke my heart and continues to do so after all these years."
But at 28, Wolfe isn't just shedding tears over the world's lostness; she's doing something about it. Along with her husband Taylor, she's going to sub-Saharan Africa to tell others who haven't heard the name of Jesus.
The Wolfes were among 59 new international missionaries appointed May 14 by IMB trustees at First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, S.C.
The new workers come from a dizzying variety of personal and professional backgrounds: a firefighter, a state trooper, a financial planner, a surgeon, a scientist, a senior pastor, a photographer, a writer, a petroleum engineer, a pediatric nurse, a college teacher, a software developer -- even a would-be comedian.
"We're here before you tonight because God called an atheist and a Buddhist to be his missionaries to East Asia," one new missionary couple announced together.
"I went from someone who did not know God to someone whose life is telling others about God," he said. "I left a life of wealth to store up treasures in heaven."
His wife added: "I went from someone who worshipped many gods to someone who teaches others about the one true God. I left Eastern religion to follow the Savior of the world."
What unites them all? A desire to obey Jesus Christ and a deep burden for peoples across the world searching for Him.
"As a 10-year-old girl, I thought missionaries must be superhuman to go across the world and leave their families," said a new worker -- one of several who cannot be identified for their security. "But now I stand before you as a single lady who simply desires to obediently follow God's call to serve among Muslim women in Asia. I'm not superhuman."
Another new missionary headed to Asia with his wife and children put it this way: "We're humbled that our extraordinary God has called our very ordinary family to fall in love with [lost people] so that they might come to know Him."
For some, the call of God has been bubbling below the surface for a long time.
"When I was in high school, God instilled in me two desires: to preach His Word where it has never been heard and to pursue a career in medicine," said a 39-year-old physician headed for North Africa. "After many years of training and preparation, now is the time! I'm excited to be 'His hands,' bringing physical healing and spreading seeds of the Gospel."
For others, the Lord's leading overseas seemingly came out of nowhere.
"Most of my life, missions was not even on my radar," another new missionary going to Asia said. "But as God opened doors and we began going on short-term trips, the seed was planted."
Growing up, his wife admitted, "I didn't even know what a missionary was. But God had a plan. As I grew, my heart for the lost softened and He called." Read More
