After many years of learning and overcoming obstacles, Sophie asked to be baptized.
By Emily Rider MLC ’18
“Here am I — send me.” We’ve heard this verse many times. Maybe we’ve even prayed it. But don’t we often add a little clause at the end of the verse? “Here am I — send me . . . as long as it’s close to home” or “Here am I — send me . . . as long as it’s a place I feel comfortable and respected.”
I’ve been guilty of that, thinking I know best where I can most effectively serve the Lord. Looking back, I never could’ve imagined where God would send me. In fact, if God had answered my prayers for my life in the way I’d wanted, I would’ve missed out on so much joy and so many adventures.
Called Abroad: Before my husband, Jesse MLC ’18, and I moved abroad, neither of us would’ve said we’d be the right people for the job. Jesse had spent his whole life in a town of about 800 people, and I only knew ministry in a WELS church or classroom. Now we find ourselves in a Southeast Asian city of over 12 million people, doing ministry in a culture drastically different from the one we grew up in.
Surely, there’d be people better suited for this mission work! Yet God put people in our paths and experiences in our lives that ultimately led us to serve overseas with Friends Network. And he showed us it didn’t matter one bit if we were the right people for the job—because he’d be with us through it all.
Depending on Jesus: My good friend Sophie knows that Jesus is with her too. She first heard about Jesus over six years ago, and she was just baptized last April. It wasn’t an easy road for her. She faced her own inner struggles, along with a family that didn’t approve of her studying the Bible.
But after hearing the love of Jesus time and time again, she finally decided to be baptized. Since that day, she’s said, “I still have all the same problems I did before, but somehow a new happiness.” And when we pray together, Sophie overflows with thankfulness, saying, “It’s all because of you, Lord,” after each point. I may be teaching her Bible stories, but she’s teaching me what a treasure our salvation really is.
Missionaries like Jesse and Emily travel a lot, sometimes for business — like renewing their visas — and sometimes for fun. Here they are with their friends Sophie and John.
Navigating the Differences: Ministry is a long, joyful learning experience — especially cross-cultural ministry.
For example, in the US, talking to an unbeliever about creation is often a sticking point. Before we had a Bible study with our Southeast Asian friends, we were prepared for this — or so we thought. We had a whole lesson about creation with anticipated questions and answers. You can imagine our surprise when, after reading the story of creation, our friends nodded their heads, said it made sense, and asked no questions. The idea of an almighty Creator aligns more with their culture than evolution does.
Other times, things that make sense within our culture become sticking points for our friends here. In most Western cultures, it makes sense that our sins deserve consequences, and an eternity in hell is something to be feared. My friend Trang sees it differently. She says she can believe she’s sinful, but she’s focused on being a good person for now to make her family proud. She’d rather be in hell with her family than in heaven by herself.
Navigating the differences is part of the adventure, and through all of it, God is working both to strengthen our faith as evangelists and to plant the seed of faith in our friends. Some days, we get to hear our friends pray, “Thank you for giving me the inner peace I’ve been searching for my whole life.” Other days we face discomfort, frustration, and rejection. But it’s all part of the adventure.
Being You: Stephen, the Friends Network mission counselor, told us to just do what we love here and ask God to open doors to share the gospel through those gifts and passions. Jesse is involved in a local gym, and several friends have come to our events and Bible studies through that. I love coffee and have met some friends at local coffee shops. Our Friends Network team uses sports, game nights, picnics in the park, English clubs, and more to build connections.
It’s comforting and freeing to know that God can and does work through everything, even if it looks different from conventional ministry.
Jesse (front right) took this selfie of their group at a game night.
Focusing on the Heart of Ministry: To those of you considering the public ministry, I encourage you to focus on the heart of it: sharing the gospel. It starts where you are right now, and then expands outward. The person next to you needs to know the love of Jesus, and so does the one on the other side of the world. All people are searching for community, meaning, and belonging. So many are searching for something they don’t yet know is found only through Jesus. And there’s no greater joy in ministry, or in life, than seeing someone you love come to know their Savior.
Ministry isn’t a box you have to fit in. It doesn’t have to look like the pulpit or classroom you’re envisioning. Your ministry could be an adventure you can hardly imagine now.
Even if you don’t think you could be a pastor, teacher, or staff minister, trust the process! You’ll get great training at MLC and the seminary—and then you’ll learn more along the way. God will equip you.
A Wild, Unpredictable Adventure: Whether you’re in an urban classroom, a rural congregation, or another country entirely, ministry is a wild, unpredictable adventure. Just like any good adventure, some days are the best of your life, and some days are just a struggle.
Right: Emily and her friend Trang wanted to remember this beautiful coffee shop. They often meet for coffee and conversation about family, school, daily life — and Jesus.
Jesse and I aren’t sure if we’ll be overseas for just another year or for the rest of our lives, but when we’re called, we pray God will embolden us to go. Whether it’s back to the classroom or on to another country, we know God has another adventure waiting around the corner for us.
So next time you pray, “Here am I — send me,” leave it at that. Pray it boldly and confidently. Pray it with certainty that the One who calls you to go already knows where you’ll end up. He goes before you, and he goes with you on the adventure.
Below: Some of the Friends Network team celebrated with Sophie at her baptism.
