Being God’s Messenger

We all like clean delegations. We like the tasks we are assigned to be clearly defined. We probably want to know:

• WHY? (What is the purpose? What is the goal?)
• WHO? (Is there anyone else? Will I have help?)
• WHAT? (What tasks are assigned? Are there unknowns?)
• WHEN? (How long? Is there mid-task evaluation?)
• WHERE? (Is remote work a possibility? What are the living conditions?)
• HOW? (Is the methodology assigned? Or do we have to figure it out?)

In Isaiah 6 we read about when the prophet Isaiah received his work assignment:

• WHY? (God wants a spokesperson.)
• WHO? (God was looking. Available people were hard to find. Isaiah is willing.)
• WHAT? (Be a spokesperson. Say what is needed, when it is needed.)
• WHEN? (The start seems immanent. There is no completion date mentioned.)
• WHERE? (The audience to whom Isaiah will speak is defined: “this people” = “God’s chosen people.” But later we see that it included surrounding nations.)
• HOW? (Isaiah is not told what to say, only to listen and to look expectantly toward God.)

The Taiwan Canadian international workers are asking those same questions as we meet together for a strategy retreat October 10-12. There are more than 23 million people living on the island where we are living. Together with Canadian Global Missions leaders, we will be asking God to define what our focus should be.

• WHY? (There is still a need for people to hear about God’s salvation.)
• WHO? (The current team? Do we need others? Is God redirecting anyone? How do we partner with the Taiwanese C&MA?)
• WHAT? (Through intentional presence, do the work of evangelism and starting churches. Do we need to do more? Do we need to stop doing anything?)
• WHEN? (Over the next five years, what should our focus be?)
• WHERE? (We currently work with the Minnan People (Taiwanese working class) and Vietnamese Diaspora. Are there others God wants us to include?)
• HOW? (Some principles may be mentioned during our strategy times, but this will likely be addressed later.)

Please pray for us as we prepare ourselves for these important days of listening to God and others. Pray for consensus, burden, and enthusiasm for what God wants the Canadian team to do.

Praise and Prayer