WILL YOU GO?
by Paul M Hanssen
This morning, my father-in-law, aware that my wife and I are about to embark on a long and challenging mission trip to Africa, sent me a brief clip of a minister sharing a story from the days of David Livingstone. Dr. Livingstone is the most renowned medical missionary sent to Africa from Scotland.
While in Africa, Dr. Livingstone and his team were attempting to navigate challenging terrain with the Gospel of Salvation. One day, the chief of a nearby village sent a message to Livingstone and his team, warning them that a group of warriors would arrive that night to kill him and everyone on his team.

Dr. Livingstone earnestly prayed and sought the Lord to spare their lives. The night in question came and went without incident. Sometime later, the entire village, along with the chief, dedicated their lives to the Lord and welcomed Dr. Livingstone and his team. When the chief was asked, “What changed your mind about attacking us—why didn’t you come that night?” He responded, “We did come with the intention of killing you all. However, when we arrived, we saw 39 giants surrounding your compound; therefore, we withdrew.”
When Dr. Livingstone returned to Scotland and spoke at the church that had sent him to Africa, he recounted the story of the night when his and his team’s lives were in danger. He shared how nothing came of it due to a miraculous intervention by God. He was asked if he remembered the date of this incident, and Dr. Livingstone, who kept meticulous diaries, recalled it. He was then informed that on that date, in the church in Scotland, 39 people had gathered to pray for him and his work in Africa.
Was that a coincidence? No, it wasn't. Those who are sent often feel isolated, threatened, unprotected, and weakened when the warriors at home don't hold the ropes in prayer and support. Speaking from experience after spending more than two-thirds of my life traveling the globe to proclaim God’s Word, I can sincerely state that missionary work is hard work. Leaving one’s personal and familiar surroundings and stepping into the unknown isn’t easy. The uncertainty of what to expect or how you will be received can be nerve-wracking. Interacting with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and religious beliefs poses a significant challenge. Not understanding the languages spoken or what people around you are saying can be exhausting and isolating. Transitioning from one climate to another, from one bed and pillow to another, eating unfamiliar foods, and adapting to different cultures is taxing on both the body and mind, often leading to fatigue and even illness. These are not complaints but rather the reality of those who are sent.
Without surrounding those who are sent with prayer and support, the mission is compromised and weakened. Not everyone can travel the miles; someone must go. However, someone must also send the ones who go!
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15)
Those who send are as important as those who go. The 39 saints in Scotland who gathered to pray and uphold the sent ones stood as giant spiritual warriors surrounding God's servants on the mission field. You can become one of the warriors needed to uphold and support us as we go forth to accomplish the purpose for which we are sent.
Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:8)
The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. As in the days of Isaiah, the cry is once again heard from the throne of God, “Who will go—who shall I send?” God is searching for those who will become “sent ones,” apostles as it were, who will either physically go, go in the Spirit through prayer, or provide the financial means for the mission to be accomplished. Either way, we can all respond to the call to go!
“Here I am, send me,” was my response to God many years ago. My wife and I continue to respond to God’s call in this way: “Send us, Lord, we will go.” However, we must be honest and acknowledge that our hearts tremble as we pack and prepare for a six-week tour of Africa. Over the next six weeks, we will undertake a total of seventeen flights to six countries, stay in ten different places to rest our heads, host five Summits, conduct numerous pastoral meetings and training sessions while spending countless hours with pastors and church leaders, all aimed at reaching as many people as possible with the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. On top of that, we are facing intense spiritual warfare attempting to shut us down, thwart our mission, and discourage our hearts.
Who will go? Will you join us? We need prayer warriors to surround us, and we also need financial supporters to uphold our mission as we move forward. Like Dr. Livingstone, we trust God for the 39 warrior giants who will surround our camp and stand in the gap to support the work we are about to undertake.
My wife and I are forming a “WILL-YOU-GO?” prayer team to send and uphold us on this mission. Those who join this team are asked to commit to daily prayer for God’s purpose to be fulfilled throughout our missionary trip. We will send regular email updates to everyone who joins the prayer team, as we keep you informed about the needs, challenges, and victories along the way. If you would like to join the “WILL-YOU-GO” group, please send an email to:
contact@sevenpillarschurch.com - and please state, “I wish to join the WILL-YOU-GO team.”
Also, if you would like to provide financial support toward the costs of the mission, please do so by visiting www.sevenpillarschurch.com/donate. Please go with us! We need your help.
In Jesus’ Name, we press on into the harvest!
~Paul M Hanssen
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