Diane Scallon
By Diane Scallon, ABWE prefield missionary
I was raised in a Godly home where my parents enjoyed going on short-term missions trips. We used to go to India every year. Because of that experience I began to consider the possibility of serving in medical missions there.
My desire for missions continued to grow and I started studying at Iowa State University with the intention of obtaining a medical degree. My path was mapped; I knew where I was headed and how I was to get there.
At least that is what I thought.
Instead, God opened up unbelievable doors for me. He brought a young man named Luke into my life. Luke was headed to Japan to be a missionary.
I believed in courting with the intention of marriage. After fasting and prayer, we began a serious relationship, knowing that we wanted to serve God in all areas of our lives.
There was one problem, however. Luke was headed to Japan and I was set on going to India. We prayed a lot about whether I should go to medical school, and we decided that it was not a good idea. There is not a great need for medical missionaries in Japan, however a master’s degree in the Bible would be incredibly valuable. For days after that, I prayed really hard, and with lots of tears realized that I can plan as much as I want to, but God directs my path (Proverbs 16:9).
As I continued praying about our relationship and about missions in Japan, I knew that I wanted to serve God whole-heartedly no matter where it was. One of my biggest fears was that I would ruin the ministry God had given Luke. I made sure I prayed a lot. I did not want to continue planning my own ways, but I wanted to rely on God’s guidance.
Recently Luke and I graduated and got married. Seven weeks later, we headed to ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) for a seminar.
During the two weeks at the seminar, the reality of missions hit me and fear began to settle in my heart.
I kept asking myself what this fear was. It was something I never felt before. As I continued to sit through the lessons at the ABWE seminar, I came to realize that Satan places fear in people’s hearts, in order to discourage them from doing God’s will. Essentially, Satan, our biggest enemy, knows that we want to live for Christ and will do anything to keep us from doing that (1 Peter 5:8). I began to realize is that fear is a normal reaction to stepping out of our comfort zones and into God’s will.
Everyone experiences some degree of fear; however, do not let fear maliciously destroy what God wants you to do. You can have fear, but with God you can know that you are secure under His wings eternally. Remember, God can use you anywhere. If you are called to missions, you will be able to serve anywhere in the world.
Think for a moment.
Who is your strength? Who is your guide? Who do you believe in?
As Christians, we believe in a mighty and all-powerful God who knows all things, and who leads and direct us. It is up to us to grasp on to His hand and follow. We cannot rely on our own human nature or abilities, but we can be confident in our heavenly Father, for He knows what is best.
There is no doubt that you will face struggles, temptations and hardship. Fortunately, you can always run and not grow weary and walk and not grow faint, knowing that God is there with you (Isaiah 40).
Embracing the reality of missions can cause fear, but it can also bring joy and excitement. Whenever Satan disheartens you, open up your Bible and pray. Prayer is powerful and should not be underestimated, for the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16-18). It is important to have a daily walk with the Lord, and it is important to have genuine Christians praying for you.
As for Luke and I, we are excited to embark on this journey, as God leads us to missions in Japan. I am thrilled at this opportunity and am looking forward to prefield ministry. It will be challenging, but our God has promised to always be by our side, in all circumstances, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
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