The Heart of Missions: Tasting and Sharing
written by Pastor Kris Wilder
You’ve Got to Try This!
I have a four-year-old daughter that loves drinking juice.
You might ask, “Well, what specific kind of juice does she like?”
And the answer would be apple juice, orange juice, grape juice, cranberry juice…
If it’s juice and has flavor, she’s a fan!
During our family shopping trips, I will occasionally buy her a personal sized juice and after she takes a few first sips, she will inevitably respond in this way—
“Dada, you have got to try this!”
My daughter’s simple reaction to her experience of tasting juice just makes sense.
If we find a good song, a relaxing vacation spot, a reliable mechanic, or a tasty restaurant, we often want to share the information with others so they can enjoy the same experience we have found.
Sharing What We’ve Found
Our church’s theme this year is “No Soul Left Behind.”
Those words might provoke thoughts of a military unit refusing to leave fellow soldiers in danger. And though there is certainly judgment and destruction for those without Christ, there is another reason to pursue souls—
For those of us that have experienced life in Christ,
It is just natural that we would want others to experience the good that is found in a relationship with Him.
Our church was privileged to hear from three missionary families during Missions Conference 2025. They are pursuing souls around the world because they want all people to experience what they have personally found in Jesus Christ.
Magdy & Elaine Ghabbour: Sharing God’s Friendship
You didn’t have to listen to Dr. Magdy very long to hear how much he cherishes his relationship with God. His love for each person of the Trinity was evident as he shared the Word and the testimonies of God’s faithfulness to him. Dr. Magdy spoke from a heart that enjoys fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has experienced that Jesus is a friend.
It’s no coincidence that Dr. Magdy’s love for God was paired with a love for people. He started out several sessions by saying,
“I love you because I love my God.”
I asked him to talk to our teens about the priority of the church in their lives, and his first words were to help them understand that the church is not a place, but a people.
This response is just natural.
The Ghabbours have given their lives to leaving no soul behind in the Middle East as they point people to the Friend of Sinners and then train others to point to Him as well.
Alex & Nicole Boyle: Sharing God’s Faithful Love
This young couple may just be getting started in Namibia, but they are no strangers to missions.
Nicole grew up in South Africa as a third-generation missionary kid.
When asked why she was interested in going back to the mission field, she pointed to the faithfulness of God that she had seen in the lives of her parents and her grandparents, and that she is now seeing in her own family.
During our conference, Alex spoke on the love of God and how maturing in Christ is a life of letting God’s love shine through us. He warned those interested in global missions that
“If you don’t love people here, you aren’t going to love people there.”
This response is just natural.
The Boyles have experienced the truth that Jesus is faithful and loving, and it is their heart to leave no soul behind in Namibia as they share the faithful love of Jesus.
Colton & Aly Gideons: Sharing God’s Glory
We were introduced to another young couple who is pursuing gospel ministry in Spain. Aly was a missionary kid in a Spanish-speaking country, and now desires to join her husband in taking the good news of Jesus to the gospel-deprived, Spanish-speaking country of Spain.
Colton told us their family’s motivation and reminded us of why missions exists when he said
“Missions exists to make disciples of Jesus who worship and enjoy Him forever.”
This response is just natural.
Colton and Aly Gideons have experienced that Jesus is worthy of worship and that there is satisfaction in being in awe of the glory of God.
They don’t want any soul left behind in Spain as they want them to become worshippers of Jesus too.
Missions at Home: Sharing the Gospel Where You Are
It is our church’s joy to partner with people who are sharing the good news of Jesus around the world.
As they left, I was reminded that our mission is the same at home.
Just as my daughter wants me to enjoy the good taste of her fruit juice, it is natural for those of us who have experienced life in Christ to want others to
“Taste and see that God is good.”
Let’s be missionaries today as we enjoy the friendship of God, the love of God, and the satisfying worship of God and then point others to the good news of the gospel that connects us to Him.
As our church kids said it simply in the song they sang during our Missions Conference:
There are children all around the world,
Children just like me.
Children ev’rywhere on earth,
Across the land and sea.They need to hear that Jesus died,
and lives to set them free.
Who will go and let them know?
Oh, Lord, send me!There are children in my neighborhood,
Children out to play.
Children who have never heard that
Jesus is the way.He died and came alive again,
and lives in Heav’n today.
Help me go, and let them know,
Oh, Lord, I pray!