When I was in college, I’d considered becoming a foreign missionary. With my love of language, I pondered joining the Wycliffe Bible Translators. Ah, but the Lord had other plans, and my life took a different direction. Or did it?
As I look back on my early years, I wonder. When the Lord called me into writing for Him in the mid-1980s, He confirmed my calling time and again. Without these confirmations, and the confidence that I was doing His will, I may not have persevered during the hard times. Since then, with numerous bylines under my belt, I think I understand now. I am, indeed, a missionary using my language skills. A literary missionary. Not just me—all Christian writers are!
As literary missionaries, like every other ministry, we must take our calling seriously. That means lots of hard work with an eye toward reaching our intended reading audience. Most of us likely won’t receive the accolades of some who serve in the public eye. And that’s all right. If we stay true to our calling and keep our motives pure, such things won’t (and shouldn’t) matter.
God watches over His literary missionaries. Our words will reach those He intends to reach. I doubt we’ll ever know how effective our work has been, how many people our stories, articles, poems and books have reached, till our journey here ends and we pass on into our heavenly home.
Called to write, then? Don’t quit. There’s a vast mission field out in this world. The world needs to read our words.
The Author's Cove: John "Jack" Cunningham on Writing & History 
I love your post, Jack! Years ago, I served as a short-term missionary in Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea. I taught missionary children. Now, as a Christian writer, I say “Amen” to your post.
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Thank you, Pat. We Christian writers, in my opinion, must have the mindset that we are indeed missionaries. I did a summer of service once with YWAM in Hawaii when I was in college.
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Such true words, Jack! I often wonder who may be reading something I’ve written and how it may have impacted them. Many times, we dream of accolades, best sellers, etc, but at the end of the day, it comes down to following the unction and calling God has placed inside us. If you’re like me, you can’t NOT write. It’s who we are. It’s the way God made us. We MUST write no matter who reads what we’ve written.
Literary Missionary. I like it!
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I totally agree, Terri. I write because I have to. It’s who I am.
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