Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! (Psalm 96:3 ESV)
The soldiers at the checkpoint yelled and brandished their machine guns at the approaching car. In the car, an international missionary, his adult son, and a pastor/missionary from the area looked at each other and wondered what to do next.
They were returning from an illegal trip into the neighboring country, where they had been deep in the jungles, teaching and encouraging local Christian pastors and believers in a nation where preaching the Gospel is illegal. Their presence there—if detected by authorities—would have likely led to their execution, or at least imprisonment. But they had safely returned over the border and back into the nation where they did have passports and visas.
Yet they knew that when the car was searched—as it would be—their bundle could be found.
While they were in the mountains, a mother had died giving birth. Her daughter was born 4–6 weeks early and needed medical care. The father had disappeared after the birth, and the grandmother brought the baby to the missionaries, asking them to take the baby with them.
Three men, illegally in the country, smuggling a premature infant? How might that look to authorities?
The men in the car exchanged glances. One quickly wrapped the infant in the smelliest clothes he could find, tucked her under the seat, and, with guns pointed toward him, exited the car with a prayer on his lips. The three men were forced to stand, legs sprawled, against the car as they were searched. The soldiers, doing their job, were thorough.
The men quietly prayed. Would the baby wake up? If she cried, they would be discovered and questioned. They had nothing to prove they weren’t kidnapping the infant.
A soldier searching the car neared the smelly bundle under the backseat, kicked the edge of the cloth, and decided he didn’t want to get any closer. He moved on.
Finally, the guards were satisfied with the three men and allowed them to continue their journey. As they drove off, they praised God for his protection, for keeping the baby girl silent, and for the courage to face trials, tribulation, and even suffering in order to further the cause of Jesus Christ.
For so many reasons this story has stayed with me since it was shared by a guest missionary at our church. I have read missionary stories to my kids, and I know of Nate Saint, Jim Elliott, and others who have died while trying to share the gospel with others. But this wasn’t just a story in a book; it was told by a man who experienced it.
Today, let us intercede for all those who put their lives on the line to minister in dangerous places.
God,
Thank you for the men and women whose calling and courage lead them to both near and distant places—places in need of the light of the Gospel. Thank you for sending them to preach, teach, and minister, so that those who hear your Word may believe, call on the name of the Lord, and be saved.
Thank you for the prayers, resources, and other support you provide through the Body of Christ—empowering these missionaries to carry out the work you have entrusted to them.
Today, we lift up missionaries who are serving in dangerous situations. Be their wisdom and their protection. Be their peace in the midst of every storm. Grant them favor with authorities, fellow missionaries, and civilians as they faithfully live out their calling.
We pray that your angels would encamp around them and deliver them from all harm. Command your angels concerning them—to guard them in all their ways. Strengthen them with boldness, endurance, and unwavering faith as they labor for your Kingdom. We pray these things in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.
For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?
And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:13-15 ESV)
For they have gone out for the sake of the name… Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (3 John 1:7-8 ESV)
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7 ESV)
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent. (Psalm 91:11-13 ESV)
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV)