When I share with other Christians that I am a missionary in W. Africa it is interesting to observe their reactions. Nearly everyone I talk to is supportive, encouraging and interested in hearing about the work, the people, the climate, the political situation, cultural colors and just plain African missionary stories.
As the interchange winds down there is sometimes the spoken or unspoken blessing on the work and suggestion that 'its fine if that is what God is calling you to do, but as for me God is calling me to be faithful right here in North America. I have not been called to that kind of life in some distant part of the world'.
That scenario has given me food for some contemplation. We go busily on with life in North America, yes, doing Kingdom work but mostly concerned about the comforts, conveniences and pursuit of the American dream. At the end of the day we have a somewhat shaky satisfied feeling that we are faithful to what God is calling us to do and be.
I know He has called me to Africa but that call grew out of a mandate. Mandates are not optional. A mandate is something we are obligated and compelled to do. The mandate Christ gave to all disciples for all time is that we are to go into the entire world sharing the gospel and inviting everyone to become disciples of Jesus. Faithful followers of Jesus don't have the option of not doing that.
Why is Jesus mandating his disciples to take the gospel to every tribe and nation? I can think of two very solid reasons-

1. It is God's design that everyone has the opportunity to know and confess that He alone is God. His desire is that everyone everywhere would bow their knee before the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
   
    
2. It is what Christ modeled for us, His followers. Simply put- if Jesus did it, we need to do it. He left the comfort zone of heaven and came into the world of darkness, pain and even death. (See Heb. 2:9-3:6 & Phil. 2:4-8) His expectation is that his disciples should do the same: Leave their comfort zone and go into a place where there will likely be opposition, persecution and possibly even death. As we proclaim the gospel under duress and discomfort people will be drawn to Jesus our model. The gospel was forged under persecution and suffering and it is most authentically understood when it is proclaimed under those circumstances. People are more receptive to the gospel when they are faced with difficulties, problems and opposition.
   
    

It is interesting to ponder the interplay of suffering with both the telling and receiving of the gospel. If that relationship is there (and I am convinced it is), it does make one wonder why we invest so much time and money into finding ways of evangelizing as an easy, fun, painless and comfortable Christian diversion. Jesus never mandated that we should have the comfortable, well heeled life most are pursuing. In fact, quite the contrary is predictied. (See Mark 10:29-31; John 12:24-26)
It is true that the vast majority will not be called to go to another continent, but that doesn't relieve us from being involved in overseas mission. It takes ten wage earners to support one overseas missionary. Do the math and you will see that just in the Mennonite church alone we should have a virtual (army) of people going out to share the good news of our Messiah.
When I return to visit North America and travel around visiting Christian communities I sense a significant level of anguish, even guilt at the incongruity of our affluence and our material driven lives on the one hand and the mandate of Christ to be messengers of a very different Kingdom on the other.
Beryl F.