Farewell Rachel (for a little while!)

Rachel Jones, The Good Book Company's editorial intern, is about to take 3 months off. We thought you might like to know a little of what she's getting up to ...

What are you going to do?

I’m spending 2 months in a South Asian country with the organisation Serving In Mission. I’m hoping to learn what it’s like to be a cross-cultural Christian worker—so I’ll be getting up to a variety of things, from running activities at a playgroup at a development project, to trying my hand at learning the local language. The writing and editing training I’ve received from the great creative minds of The Good Book Company may well come into use too…

Why do you want to serve God in this way short term?

Like many Christians, I’m compelled by Jesus’ command to makes disciples of all nations, and so I hope to be able to contribute something towards that great commission. Secondly, It’s often said that in our churches, some are called to serve God overseas long-term, while others are to “send” them, by providing financial and prayer support. Which is my role? This trip, although short, will better equip me for either.

How can we pray for you as you serve?

As I’ve been doing some background reading, I’ve been really challenged by the vision of what Jesus gave up to rescue us—giving up all the glories of heaven to become fully human, and ultimately dying on the cross. So cross-cultural workers, in a (lesser) sense of the word, aim to become fully “incarnate” in the host culture. That means living as much like the people they’re trying to reach as possible, and trying to fit into the culture, however uncomfortable that may feel. So please pray that instead of worrying about physical discomfort and distance from loved ones, I would keep what Jesus has done for me at the forefront of my mind, and be as ready as he was to listen to, understand, love and serve others.

But much more, please join me in praying that God would grow the church in South Asia, so that on the last day, there would be many from that culture among the scene described by John in Revelation 7:9-10:

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’”