Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Dr. George Murray once explained, “Evangelism is reaching people who don’t believe in Jesus; Missions is reaching people who don’t know there’s a Jesus to believe in. The border to be crossed is not geographical but spiritual. Missions is the equitable distribution of the gospel.”
In order for the gospel to be distributed to the ends of the earth, we’ve had to say many goodbyes at CFC. In the past couple of years, we’ve sent out DSL, PPO, PMC, PPC, and now PJL. This is not to mention the countless CFC alumni doing God’s work all over the world.
So many memories flood my mind when I think of J–experiencing our first Africa trip together, breaking fast inappropriately after Passion Week 
, serving as officers and making countless mistakes 
, seminary and youth pastor years, praying together, late night chats, my all too many Apple questions at the most inconvenient times, double dating with our wives (who’ve known each other for 30 years!) and of course, serving at CFC together. As I look back on our 20 years of friendship as well as my relationship with all my brothers on staff, I think to myself, I am a blessed man. What a great thing it is to go to battle together for the Kingdom!
Having written all that, there is still an undeniable sadness because we are human. No matter how many times we say our good byes, the heart-sorrow of missing them, of not seeing them at the next meeting, of not being able to plop on their couch and just shoot the breeze, of not being able to pray with them face to face… after being able to do so for 20-30 years… is, for a lack of a better word, saddening. Moreover, it’s hard to even begin to grasp the profound pain for the parents and siblings of these ordained missionaries, who to them are just their kids and siblings. It’s amazing how much emotion can be expressed in a simple crease of a parent’s face. I leave the airport, but not without a lump in my throat.
Airports. Luggage. Embraces. Taillights. Tight throats. Final waves.” “Write me!” “Don’t forget to phone.”
Question: What kind of God would put people through such agony? What kind of God would give you friends and families and then ask you to leave them?
Answer: A God who knows that the deepest love is not built on passion and romance but on a common mission and sacrifice. A God who knows that we are only pilgrims and that eternity is so close that any “Goodbye is, in reality, ‘See you tomorrow’.” A God who had to say goodbye to a Son that He dearly loved.
~Max Lucado
Burundi, Africa 1991
July 16, 2008 at 9:12 pm
good stuff, p.jong.
and not to ruin the goodness of this entry, but i just want to say that i’m liking the mushroom cut you’re rocking in this picture. and p.joe’s expression of sadness/confusion.