We are blessed as a ministry to also work with great
missionaries. Be encouraged as you read
their story.
Being a missionary, it is necessary to count everything but
the gain of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord as garbage. (Phil. 3:8 NLT) Tom and I
have been involved in overseas missions for over twelve years and have had many
opportunities to experience the cost of service.
Ten years ago, on our first mission overseas in Israel, the
Lord made clear His calling on our lives. He gave us John 3:16, “For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Our calling was and is “For
God so loved the world…” Some missionaries know at a young age they will grow
up and serve in a particular country or location. On the other hand, some grow
into a love and desire to serve in a certain place where God had led them. It
is amazing to read about missionaries spending their whole lives in one place.
For Tom and I, God did not call us to one place—but said that we would have the
world as our mission field. This means we could go anywhere. Knowing this, when
we go where God calls, we still serve as though we will always be there. Our
hearts are firmly planted to love and serve those God places before us for as
long as He desires.
There are those who question us as to why we seem to move on
every few years. The answer is a simple one: God says it is time to go. This is
not an easy thing to do; in fact, it is very hard for Tom and I to leave those
we have come to love and cherish. What makes going to someplace new so
difficult is knowing that our hearts will be terribly broken one day, leaving
friends and loved ones behind because of God’s calling for our lives. Pieces of
our hearts have been left behind in Sudan, Uganda, Israel, Rwanda, Kenya and
here in the states. And, it should be this way, to leave a part of yourself
behind. You need to know that it does hurt, a lot. This is part of living our
lives for Christ. Christ loved those He served and we are called to follow in
His steps. Some of you have asked us about the difficulties we face living
overseas. It is not an easy life God chose for us. We are separated from our
family much of the time, as I was from Tom for over a year. We miss our
families, kids, grandchildren and friends; we have no house or apartment to
come home to. Our health has suffered. Those we are called to serve do not
always welcome us. It can be very dangerous. So why do we do what we do?
Because of GOD! There is no greater joy than serving God. Being a part of the
joy of someone coming to Christ, discipling those who want more of Jesus.
Loving the unloved through Christ’s love, being a light to a dark & dying
world.
What can be better than that? The joy that God places before
us is very real, but not always easy. I am being very honest because you need
to know how to pray for us as we prepare for the United Kingdom. Our next
mission field will be a very difficult one. Again we will be separating from
our family and friends. Most don’t
realize that those we will share with in the United Kingdom will be much less
receptive to the gospel than whose we have served in the past. Our desire is to be faithful servants,
despite the conditions. Jesus is Lord!
Maybe you have always lived in one place or maybe you move a
lot. What is important is that you remain or go as God leads you. It is easy to
think the ministry is all about you, what you can do for God or how God is
going to use you. This is not true; ministry is all about God, about where He
wants to take you and what He wants to do with your life as a believer. He
chooses to use us for His good pleasure and we can do nothing apart from Him.
The path God has chosen for you is perfect. Let nothing detour you from His
path. God uses trials and various situations to build your faith. He wants to
see if you trust Him. Do you? Do you know He is faithful to complete the good
work He is doing in you? Go where He calls you to go and do what He calls you
to do! One day when you reach your final
destination He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
We love you all so very much,
Tom & Cheryl Rees
Support Tom & Cheryl Rees: www.supportFRM.org
(include Rees under comments)
Far Reaching Ministries
North American Headquarters
38615 Calistoga Drive
Suite 100
Murrieta, CA 92563
Office: +1 (951) 677-4474
“I once thought all these things were so very important, but
now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything
else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that
I may have Christ and become one with him.”
Philippians 3:8 NLT
