"I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do his work through me." ~ J. Hudson Taylor

I met Dr. Matthew Sakeuh and his wife Plenseh in the spring of 2004. Apparently, I was the only person who responded to a plea for partners Pastor Sakeuh made over the radio earlier that morning. I called the number and was immediately invited into the Sakeuh home. His wife greeted me with a warm hug and an infectious smile that made me feel like a part of the family. Their passion to build a campus for HIV/AIDS orphans in their homeland of Liberia could not be denied. After reviewing family photos, brochures of the African Indigenous Evangelical Missions (AIEM) organization, and reading proposals for the campus I knew that I was called to be a part of building a safe haven for orphans in Africa.

Dr. Sakeuh's vision to build on 200 acres of donated land was an inspiration. Plans for a hospital, school (elementary through junior college), dormitories for boys' and girls', farmland for food and market, a church, and the digging of wells were the perfect outreach vehicles. I have watched him fly back and forth from Indiana to Monrovia leaving his wife and five children behind for months at a time often with no promise of financial support. The Sakeuh's genuine faith in action and dedication to spread the hope of Jesus Christ motivated me to do more, be more, and share more of Christ.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8 NLT). We are commanded by God to do missionary work. Even with modern technological communicative advances and new, faster modes of transportation, there are still some who have never heard the Good News. As a result, there are men, women, and children who have dedicated their entire lives to answering the cry of the people: "I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me" (Psalm 142:4).

Orphans in Africa are crying out. Lost souls in China and India are crying out. Supporters of the new "intellectual" atheist movement are crying out. Even in America, which according to missionaries of Champions Church in Gresham, Oregon "the USA is the second largest mission field on the planet." The whole world is crying out for hope, help, and healing. As the Sakeuh family tirelessly sacrifices to wipe away tears with Christ, I sat at home wondering how I could give of myself in a meaningful way to act upon the great commission without feeling guilty of neglecting my family. But, "if Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him" (C.T. Studd).

However, "the gospel is only good news if it gets there in time" (Carl F. H. Henry). The time is now. Someone somewhere is waiting to hear and be saved. We have Christ to share (Galatians 1:15-16), a cross to carry (Matthew 16:24), and a crown to win (II Tim. 4:6-8). "The command has been to 'go,' but we have stayed -- in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth ... but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland" (Robert Savage, Latin American Mission). I have made up my mind to obey Him and step outside of my comfort zone to introduce Christ to the lost everywhere. I will not waste anymore time safe at home watching Christ work through other Saints. Use me, Lord, to do thy will.