After 22 years of service in southeast Asia, Ana* reflects on what qualifies people for mission. She’s seen hundreds of short and long-term workers and has found one requirement: God can and does use anyone who is willing.

More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus said that the harvest was plentiful, but the workers were few (Matthew 9:37, Luke 10:2). He urged His disciples to pray that God would send out workers into His harvest field.

The need remains. You may read this and pray that He will send workers. You might pray, and also go. Or you may feel that going—particularly overseas—is not for you. I wonder—what qualities or qualifications do you believe you need to serve in His harvest field?

Reflecting on my own journey and on the example of hundreds of short and longer-term workers we’ve hosted in our tiny corner of southeast Asia, I believe that the number one requirement is willingness. God can and does use anyone who is willing.

Multiplying our Willingness

Having attended churches that supported missionaries, from the time I started earning an income, I started doing likewise. I began supporting medical or agricultural specialists working in places where formal academic Bible teaching wasn’t feasible.

Later, when English teaching opened up as an option, God asked me if I was willing—and to prepare—to go to a place where encouraging people to meet God was risky, let alone translating His word into particular languages. I didn’t know ‘where’ until I had almost finished my post-graduate studies and Bible college.

In time, our missional business model became much more diverse. We opened vocational training courses in hospitality and bakery, where students studied everything from a Christian perspective. Many came to faith and stayed after their training to grow in their relationship with God.

Our team now runs a café, bakery and guest house, and we are involved in office work and as well as Bible study and youth ministry. When our team organizes a youth group outside of town, people of all ages attend.

How the Lord Brings in His Harvest

Apart from willingness, what qualities should you have? Do you need to be young, physically strong, extroverted, scholarly, adventurous, courageous, confident, linguistically gifted (or all of the above)?

No. Just willing. Of course, God can use any of the abilities He has given you, but you don’t have to be particularly young, strong, brave or gifted. You need only have confidence in God’s faithfulness and sufficiency, not in yourself.

In our small corner, you can be adventurous, but it isn’t essential. You can have all the conveniences of town living and you can venture out to places tourists never go to be an encouragement and blessing to various communities.

Every personality type is needed here. Different workers will connect with different local team members, students and others they meet. And as His worker, you can expect to be part of God’s doing the impossible in big and small ways.

Yet there is no place on the harvest field for heroes or holiday makers. Willing servants who accept being part of a team will thrive; those unwilling simply will not. For the willing, in Him, you will do more than you could ever imagine, making, teaching and baptizing disciples of Jesus.

You will be stretched and do things you never expected. You won’t do a job with office hours. You will do whatever it takes to invest in making disciples. It’s a life, not a job. You will experience His joy as the people meet Christ then grow up, strong and able to serve Him.

A lot of your work is done by example, particularly in a context where words are just information, and information has very little value. You’ll find it immensely rewarding when ‘the lights go on,’ and words travel from the head to the heart, and move hands to serve likewise.

You’ll find that the Lord is in charge of the results—and there will be results. The rewards are great. You’ll rely on God more. You’ll face fear and realize that God is in control. You’ll learn what grace is—in your own life, and as you extend it to those you are sharing life with.

God will equip you with the ability and stamina to do what it takes to bring in His harvest.

Harvesting as a Team

I can’t help but wonder, how many people will be in heaven because I was willing to come and live here for over 22 years? I don’t know. It’s a team effort.

I’ve worked closely with perhaps a hundred local Christians, who are able to share Jesus in meaningful ways because they’ve studied and worked with us. Many hundreds of young people have experienced Christian community through our summer residential Bible schools.

Thousands of local people have studied English with teachers who know their names, care about and nurture them—perhaps the first Christians they’ve ever met. Across all this, it’s a team effort. All aspects of our missional business have worked together, in the Lord’s grace, to bring in His harvest.

I don’t know what lies ahead. I do know that God has been faithful and sufficient throughout my life, so my future will be built on that same foundation. I am still willing to follow where and how He leads.

Daniel’s* Story

Daniel grew up in a village, where a young lady had met Jesus through our ministry (but that’s another story). On her first trip home, she openly and happily shared what she knew so far about Jesus. When we visited a few months later, the joy on Daniel’s face was evident, and that he wanted to know more. When he came to faith, he was threatened with violence and thrown out of home. So he tried to ‘not believe’ for a few years— but his father could tell! Jesus had changed him.

Daniel came to live with our team to finish high school, and after graduation he joined our maintenance team. He was also baptized. Now, he teaches Sunday School training, helps run youth group, and helps lead in summer Bible school. He has a servant heart, always willing to drive anyone anywhere they need to go, to help local churches, and to help our team is all aspects. Here’s to Mr Willing!

How You Can Pray

• I’ve been part of the furniture or fabric of His work here for so long that our team will feel the reset keenly for a while. Pray for the team as they continue working for His harvest.
• Current staff are able to fill all the roles I held—except for English teaching. Native speakers or near native speaker teachers are sought by the communities here. Pray for God’s provision.
• Give thanks for the maturity and commitment of local Christians as they also go out to the harvest. May each one stand firm and continue to share good news joyfully and meaningfully.

*Names changed for privacy and security purposes