We Are Missionaries
As career missionaries, Vanna and I have committed to live in a foreign country away from family and friends in order to obey Christ and fulfill the call on our lives to go into all the world and make disciples. It is in God’s infinite wisdom that He has placed us in a region of the world that is home to refugee and immigrants from Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, Turkey, Philippines, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and South America. He has brought “all the world” to us in Western Europe!
The word missionary first appeared in English literature in the mid 1500s and is derived from the Latin and Greek word meaning apostle. It was probably used in reference to Ignatius Loyola who organized the Society of Jesus and sent one of the most famous and effective catholic missionaries, Francis Xavier, to India. Webster’s dictionary defines the word as “someone sent on a mission—especially a religious or charitable mission to a foreign country.”
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3 NIV).
Several times we have been in churches where the pastor asked the members to place their hands on us, pray for us and sent us out—in the name of Jesus—to do the work of the ministry. Vanna and I know God has called us, and He is our source of strength and support. But, we also know He uses His church to intercede on our behalf and financially support us and the ministry.
Thank you for enabling us to be missionaries. Thank you for praying for us and sending us out to do the work God has called us to do in Western Europe, where we can minister to “all the world.” There are Portuguese, Ghanaians, Nigerians, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, Polish, Congolese, Turkish, Ugandans, Sierra Leoneans, Togolese, Filipinos, and Brazilians who are being evangelized, discipled, and trained for the ministry because of you!
–Dennis and Vanna Tanner
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