Well that answer hit hard one day to Grace Johnson as she held a young mother in her arms and watched her slip out into eternity without Jesus Christ.

Johnson had answered the call to short-term missions using her skills as a nurse.  Johnson a young 23 year old journeyman from Missouri ended up serving in the slums of a South Asian city where she helped to provide health care as a way to share the Gospel.   

It was from these slums that the young mother, Ila,* came to Johnson. Ila had suffered a miscarriage and was close to death. Johnson took her to a nearby hospital, but doctors did little more than administer an IV. She stayed with Ila, cradling her body on a cold, stainless steel stretcher without sheets or padding. It was a moment Johnson will never forget.

Ila, a young mother came to Johnson from these slums she was close to death after suffering a miscarriage.  Johnson took Ila to a hospital close by but the doctors only gave Ila an IV.  Johnson remained with Ila as she lay on a cold stainless steel stretcher without any sheets or padding.  A time Johnson will never forget.  Johnson said,

"There is nothing like a young woman your age gasping her last breath in your arms, knowing she never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus, to give urgency to sharing the Gospel.”

Now Johnson has that same urgency compelling her to return to the mission field.  Johnson is one of 92 new missionaries who were appointed by the International Mission Board on April 9 in Sunnyvale, TX. 

President of IMB, Jerry Rankin asked the more than 2500 people who had gathered for a special service at Sunnyvale First Baptist Church, “Why does God want the nations to know Him?” “It’s because of the tragedy of lostness.  Here in America we just can’t imagine what it means to live in a place that’s never heard the name of Jesus.  To live a lifetime in futile search for your eternal destiny, never knowing that there’s a Savior who died for you.”  “We’re so grateful….that you 92 new missionaries are taking a stand.   Taking a stand in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ; taking a stand on behalf of the power of the Gospel to penetrate a lost world.”

The new missionaries whether young or old, single, or married with a seminary degree or only a GED, represented a diverse cross section of Southern Baptist life all of them according to Rankin are bound by a common thread in their testimonies you sense the same urgency Grace Johnson had.  Rankin shared, “once God impacts your life with the lostness of the world you just can’t turn away from it.”

This is how Johnson feels and why she soon will be taking her nursing skills and her passion for evangelism on to the Muslim world where she will be serving among the people of Northern Africa and the Middle East. 

Johnson said, “During my two years as a journeyman, my mind was opened to a whole new reality of the lostness of the world, as well as my complete dependence on God.”  “I constantly had to face the urgency of providing the people I was around with the Gospel.” Johnson admits after losing Ila it was difficult not second-guessing oneself.  Johnson knew she was from a dangerous area of the slums, “too dangerous” to enter.  “It makes you think, What if I had pushed a little harder to get to that other side?”  Johnson prayed for an open door and God used the tragedy to open one. 

Johnson’s care really touched Ila family so much they invited her into their home.  An open invitation to share Bible stories and several of the family came to know the Lord as she yielded herself to the Lord’s working in her life. 
 

MISSIONARIES' CALLING 

Missionaries shared about confronting darkness and about hearing God’s call to missions for the very first time and on volunteer mission trips with their home church.  Others shared about struggles they had leaving family behind as well as the comforts of home and closeness of their friends as they depart for the mission field. 

Marshall Smith a Kentucky native was a content “pew warmer” before God’s calling on his life to missions.  Jennifer, his wife remembers breaking into tears when Marshall would talk of going overseas. 

Jennifer said, “I would usually break down crying because I couldn’t get over the thought of leaving his parents or giving away our animals.”  “My general response:  ‘No way, not me.’”  Now the Smiths are on their way to serve the Lord in Northern Africa and Middle East.  Separation according to Rankin wasn’t easy for the missionaries’ families as many of them traveled to Texas to be at the appointment service. 

“We know the mixed emotions that you must be experiencing,” he said. “I've seen both of my children appointed and take my grandchildren to the other side of the world. Even though I have a heart for missions, there was something painful about that.”

“But I want you to know that God has a special touch of grace for you. You should be very proud that God has chosen your sons and daughters to be the ones to fulfill His will and His mission.”

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