"We have always believed ... that a great and indispensable motivation in world missions is HOPE. By hope I mean the confidence that we are engaged in
a cause that will triumph in the end. No life laid down in the cause of world evangelization is laid down in vain. No dollar given is in vain. No sermon preached is in vain. No prayer offered is in vain. No candle of gospel light is ever lit in vain. Our energy and sacrifice and focus is sustained by HOPE-the confidence that God's kingdom will triumph in the world." - John Piper
It's not often that a quote really "sticks with me" but this one has. Especially as we are following news updates of the massive wildfires in Colorado (incredibly close to the Nav headquarters) and as I recently followed the death of Jay & Katrina Erickson (missionaries in Zambia). It made me start to wonder WHY? Jay is a missionary pilot and had graduated from Moody Bible Institute (where my brother is currently going to school). They had gone through fund-raising (which I know can be oh so challenging), adjusting to life in a new country with two young girls (ages 1 & 2) this alone is something I CAN NOT imagine. They were giving their lives to serve Christ and just months after arriving in Zambia, on Katrina's first excursion with Jay since being there the plane crashed and they both died.
These are just two of many situations I'm aware of and burdened by that seem so hopeless. But we can and do persevere because of our HOPE in Christ.
