“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16:6-10 (NIV)

I love this story.
I have read it hundreds of times and I have preached it almost as many.

Over the last few months, I have felt the Lord speaking to me about the idea of what we know as the “Macedonian Call.” Paul and his companions were on a missionary journey when they ran into some trouble trying to figure out which way to go. Things were not going very well. Each way they turned there was a road block. The Holy Spirit said no to one direction and the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to go to another. Seemingly without options, they did the only thing they could.

They stopped.

That night Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia begging them to come help. The next morning they put all of their options together and came to a conclusion that this was God’s will for them.

In 1996, I sat in a youth conference in Fremont, California. There were about 2,000 students there to hear all about missions and how they could serve. As Peggy and I sat, wishing we had ear plugs, a missionary named Dale Priser was introduced. He started his time by showing a video of his work in Trinidad & Tobago. It showed many elements of what they were doing to reach the lost and it ended with him walking through a large metal gate into a school yard.  As he entered, a small boy who was about 4 years came running and jumped into his arms.

Pointing at the camera Dale said to him “what do you want to say to my friends watching?”
“Come visit me!” he yelled.

Well, every heart in the place melted and we were all moved to go on this trip. As Peggy and I drove home to Southern California, we stopped to do some shopping. As Peggy was in the store, I stood out by the car and was thinking over the weekend and all we had seen and heard. I clearly saw Dale standing there with his arms stretched out.

Come help me.
The Macedonian call right there in the Gilroy outlets.

Needless to say, that next summer we joined over 250 young people from all over the United States in Trinidad & Tobago helping Dale and his team do ministry all over the island.

Over the last few months, I’ve had several conversations with missionaries who have echoed the call to me.

Mark Good, who is a missionary in France, sat in my office and spoke of the need for workers and teams. He told me of the needs in their city of Grenoble. “Steve, we to be more deliberate in our attempt to recruit new missionaries. It begins with showing them the work we do and letting them see for themselves.” He was echoing my heart of putting them on airplanes and letting God make missionaries out of them.

Henry Smith is my friend who was pretty much born and raised in Ecuador. As a missionary kid, he has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to teams. A few years ago, I stood on a hilltop of a newly forming squatter community, “they are coming here” he told me. “I want the church to be here first.” He asked for help with teams that would come and reach the children of this new community. We have helped send many teams to Henry over the past 10 years. Just last week, Henry and I were together at a mission committee meeting. After the meeting he pulled me aside and told me of a new church they were getting ready to plant. “Steve, we need your teams again to reach this new area. Can you help us?”

These are only two examples of Macedonian calls I’ve received.

I could go on with the church planters in Spain,
or the missions director in a large church in Denmark, who have both recently asked for our help. The Pastor in southern Spain who has a heart for North Africa.
Our friends in Hawaii who are believing God for a mighty outpouring of His Holy Spirit.
Pastor Bill in Fiji who has a vision for reaching all of the South Pacific with the Gospel of Jesus.

So many needs are presented to us here at Global Passion that it can seem overwhelming.

But, we believe that the Lord is showing us this. Sending the Macedonian call knowing that we will be given the chance to step out in faith to meet all of the needs that are presented.

Here is where I need you.
Will you respond?
The call is going out.
They are standing there begging come over and help us.

As Jesus said in Matthew 9:35 the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Like Paul you may be searching for your place. The Lord already knows where that is.  He’s preparing your heart and getting you ready to step out in response to the call. When Mark or Henry or any number of other missionaries call I want to be able to say yes, we have a team for you. A caring group of people who have said yes to the call of God even before they know where that is. People who are hearing the Macedonian call to come over here and help us. As long as there are people in this world who have not heard the gospel our mandate is clear. We must go and help our Missionaries in any way we can.

The choice is clear.
You pray, and yes we need you to pray.
You give, and yes we need you to give.
But, more than anything, we need you to go.

When I first started in missions I used to show videos of the needs around the world. A song played on the video that really stands out to me as I write this.

Will you be the one
to answer to his call
will you stand
when those around you fall
To take His light
Into a darkened world
Tell me will you be the one

Until All Have Heard,
Steve