Because of my story…
Anxiety…Grief…Fear…Isolation. These are all words I once used to describe the unique sorrow I experienced by having a child overseas. Though I studied–and mostly understood–God’s call to reach the nations set forth in the scriptures, I was unable to process–let alone disarm–these powerful emotions when my son first left. I knew that Jesus assured Goers and their parents (me!) blessing for their sacrifices, “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life,”1 but the end goal of these “light and momentary struggles”2 seemed nebulous because of my inability to share my concerns with like-hearted parents.
Enter a World-wide Pandemic. The intersection of a recently completed Missiology class with the early panic-induced frenzy of Covid 19 sharply reemphasized my feelings of my “Missionary Mama” aloneness. I had no one but my spouse to help me navigate these feelings of isolation. In the concluding section of my Spring 2020 Missiology project, I lamented:
“As the mother of a Sent-One, I have few other parents who can relate to my situation. And, although I am in awe of the great God who chose my child to go on mission abroad, I often let the sadness of his absence eclipse the wonder of his position. With the addition of a daughter-in-law and now a granddaughter, the longing for closeness–for sharing life together–has become all the more pronounced. I think this longing for family togetherness is God-ordained, but what I have learned is this: not all of my God-given desires will be realized on this side of Heaven. However, maybe God has placed me here at “such a time as this” so I can help meet the needs of those we have neglected.”
Enter Salt Network Global. As my instructor (Mike!) read my proposal and concluding lament, he contacted me to say he saw merit in my concerns. We set a date to meet and discuss the possibility of developing a parent-support program. I was thrilled! This blog for parents of Sent-Ones is a result of that meeting. We hope to do Zoom calls and videos to connect you to us and to each other in the near future.
Because of God’s story…
As parents of any children–not just the Sent-Ones–we must remember that we are stewards of our children, not owners. Our kids belong to God; we are to love, invest in, and manage them well while they live in our homes. When they leave, however, we must release the management of their lives to them. And releasing our precious ones is never easy. However, God promises to bless those who LEAVE family and comfort to serve him–and this also includes those who SEND them (Matthew 18:29-30).
Because of your story…
I want to share the things God has taught me with those who are just beginning this difficult and confusing journey. Because parents of Sent-Ones have a unique path, most churches fail to minister well to those in this niche. We hope Salt Global can lead the way in ministering well to parents by acknowledging this peculiar parental sorrow and meeting them in it. By doing this, we believe that we will be setting up our churches for more sustainable missions programs and our families for greater success.
We are so glad to have you on board. Let’s do this together!
1 Matthew 18:29-30 (NIV) emphasis mine
2 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
Parents of Goers 