Can Moms Be Missionaries?
When reading about Paul in the New Testament what comes to mind? A gifted missionary perhaps? Paul wrote letters to various churches, traveled from city to city, to the Jew and to the Gentile, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ!
As encouraging as this is, I can’t help but wonder what I have in common with Paul. From the Chick-fil-A drive through to daycare pickups, from dirty diapers to spilled Cheerios, from grocery store trips to dance recitals, the life of a mama with kids seems very different from his. Yet just like Paul, we have been given the same mission.
Simply put, evangelism is sharing the gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ. It can seem intimidating not knowing where to start or having the right words to say, but when Jesus gave us the great commission, he ended it with a powerful reminder as we seek to obey this command. He reminds us that he will be with us always.[1] That means that we’re not alone in this. As we begin to share our faith with others and teach them to know and follow Christ, we will actively see God working in our lives and in the lives of others.
For a long time, I saw evangelism as a specific calling for missionaries. So when my husband first started telling me that God burdened his heart to share the gospel with the lost, I thought, “Wow…why does he want to go on a mission trip now after we just had our first baby?” In the midst of feeding our newborn around the clock and sleepless nights, it’s an understatement to say I was relieved when he told me that a mission trip wasn’t what he meant. He then explained that wherever God has placed us is our mission field—it’s in our cities, our communities, our jobs, and our neighborhoods where God has providentially placed us to share the truth about him with others.
Prayer: A Messenger’s Lifeline
Jesus’ ministry was composed of going from city to city, healing, teaching, and serving people. We have heard all about the crowds who followed his every step seeking his teaching and miracles. However, a significant part of his ministry—how the gospel spread so rapidly among first century Christians—is often overlooked. Jesus poured out his life into a few men he called to follow him—his disciples.
The first thing we can do is to pray that God would press onto our hearts people who he wants us to witness to. Think about those who are around you that may not know who Jesus is. Prayer shows our dependency on God to give us opportunities to share the truth about him with those people whose hearts he has already been working in. We, the messengers, just need to be ready to share.
The Home: A Missionary Practice Field
The thought of starting up a conversation about Jesus with an acquaintance or stranger can be downright awkward. Questions like, “How do I even bring this up?” or “What if they ask questions I don’t know?” come to mind. Or “What if I completely stumble through everything I’m trying to say?” All of these have happened to me one time or another, and yes it was indeed embarrassing. The great thing about moments like these is that they force you to make a decision. We can allow an embarrassing moment to keep us from experiencing a powerful promise that follows after our obedience, or we can continue to press forward—placing one foot of faith in front of the other. I must say I have teetered between both of these decisions more than I would like to admit. But as a stay-at-home mom, I decided to take advantage of my time at home as a practice field for my mission field.
As often as I could, I started sharing the gospel with my one-year-old son who would, at worst, ignore me and, at best, clap at my feeble attempts. Reciting the full gospel out loud to my child gave me the opportunity to practice what I would say in a way that sounded natural.
This practicing also allowed me to repeatedly share the truth of God with my son, because our children need the gospel just as much as we do. Sharing it with them, no matter how young they are, is one way we take on the responsibility for passing on our faith to the next generation. In response to the disciples rebuking the people for bringing their children to Jesus, he said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”[2] As moms, we have a lost people group right in front of us—our children. And we are called to bring our children to Christ. The best way we can do that is by being imitators of Christ and giving them the gospel.
Hospitality: A Conduit for the Mission
Some of the most significant moments in Jesus’ life happened over a meal. His life showed that the time spent around the table is a potential catalyst for heart-changing conversations. Thankfully, biblical hospitality doesn’t require us to be the best hostess, a decent cook, or have a Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia-inspired kitchen table. We can use our homes as leverage for the gospel just by giving our neighbor a seat at our table.
At the core of hospitality is a heart to serve another. The key to building relationships is serving. As we care for and serve others, barriers are broken down and bridges are built. It’s an opportunity to love our neighbor as ourselves. Inviting people into our lives gives them an opportunity to witness how Christians are to love our brother and the stranger, how grace is extended when a mistake is made, how forgiveness is offered when someone has wronged us, how kindness is shown when our patience is tested. It’s sincere love and authenticity that opens a door for transparency to flow freely, and this open door is our opportunity to interject the truth about the sustaining love we have in Christ. Hospitality in action can be beautifully diverse. It may look like inviting a co-worker to lunch, having a play date over coffee with another mom and her little ones, or a full on Sunday dinner after church. The important thing to remember is that we are reaching out to the hearts of others that they may come to know the one who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth.[3] So momma, no matter what your daily routine looks like—grocery store, coffee shop, school drop off—you can use these moments to take the good news of Jesus Christ wherever he leads your beautiful feet.[4]
[1] Matt. 28:19-20
[2] Matt. 19:14
[3] Matt. 28:18
[4] Rom. 10:15
