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?
Looking back on my early literary years, I wonder. When the Lord called me into writing for Him in the mid-1980s, He confirmed it time and again. Without these confirmations, and the confidence 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 missionaries, like every other ministry, we must take our calling seriously. That means lots of hard work in our efforts to reach 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 enter our heavenly home.
Called to write? 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 