–– Paul Schlehlein
The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
In the old days, finding a mission field may have been easier. Too many options make decisions difficult. In the primitive eras of Great Commission work, missionaries didn’t enjoy as many people groups to consider.
In the 17th century, most Protestant missionaries went to the Native Americans in North America, in the 18th century to Asia, and in the 19th century to Africa. Maps were unsophisticated and incomplete, especially in a nation’s interior regions. Often, prospective missionaries chose the only option available.
Transportation was rudimentary. For example, in 1829, Anthony Groves arrived in Baghdad with his wife and two boys after trekking 2,000 miles over mountains and deserts. They travelled by foot, by horse, and by a boneshaking German wagon. This was ten years before Livingstone took a three-month voyage to Africa from Scotland.
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Last year my four oldest children memorized the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I grew up in a Christian home where, by God’s grace, my parents forced my sister and me to memorize hundreds of verses. I use “forced” on purpose because that’s really what they did and you won’t hear a peep of complaint from me. I only wish they would have pressed us to learn more.
