Kingdom Industriousness
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men” (Proverbs 22:29).
An overarching characteristic of believers I meet around the world is their industriousness. A person who is “industrious” may be described as someone “energetically devoted to a task.” As a father, I am thrilled when I see my teenage children demonstrate industriousness. While some of their peers are lounging around for the summer, a couple of my children are busy mowing lawns, dog-sitting and volunteering at our church.
Ministry as a “profession” is a luxury most of the sisters and brothers we serve will never experience. Instead, they diligently serve God where he has planted them—usually managing a full-time job and a demanding ministry to those around them.
For example, I remember a strong brother, Bijay, who operated a medical kiosk in South Asia. His “profession” was similar to that of a pharmacist, but his “calling” was to be an evangelist. The transforming message he shared generated so much conflict in his neighborhood that angry opponents eventually destroyed his shop.
VOM’s indigenous leader for the area heard about the attack and decided to help. When I stopped by to visit a few months later, Bijay was operating a new medical shop just a few villages down the road from the village he was attacked in. He uses his new location to carry on with his practice and to continue fulfilling his calling as an evangelist.
One of the fruitful ways VOM is able to serve these “industrious” believers is by providing vocational training that they are able to integrate with their ministry. In dozens of countries, VOM is helping Christians learn a new trade. In one case, we provided sewing machines and training for a group of young women. These sisters were abandoned by their husbands, or their parents, and sometimes evicted from their villages because of their faith in Christ, but they are pressing on in faith and hope!
As an added benefit, these young ladies experience a new sisterhood as they train together. As they learn their new trade, in relative safety now, they also share life. They live, work and play together and develop deep personal bonds as they grow.
When their course is complete, they open small sewing shops and serve their communities. Imagine the opportunities they have as they build relationships with customers and deliver high-quality products. Only Heaven will reveal how meaningful these vocational training programs are—in the lives of these sisters and in the lives of those they will impact.
It is our honor to help facilitate their spiritual and vocational development. And, on their behalf, I’d like to say “Thank you” for praying for them. Isn’t it exciting to consider that your prayers today will be felt around the world by the “industrious” believers that we are able to equip?
Dr. Jason Peters serves in VOM’s International Ministries department, traveling frequently to meet with our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. He lived overseas for five years and has ministered in 28 countries as diverse as Cuba, Nepal, Iraq and Indonesia. He and his wife, Kimberly, along with their five children, count it a great honor to serve with the persecuted church.