The email arrived at a time when we were jetting across the ocean to the beautiful country of Austria. The first ever SaveOne Europe Summit was happening. I was bringing a team with me from the states, and I was thrilled to be in this moment; recognizing the growth of SaveOne and how God had so greatly expanded our reach. To say I was happy would be a massive understatement. But then the email was opened and I could tell my husband’s demeanor changed. I asked him about it and he finally let me read the accusing words that went like this….
“Has every baby been saved in Nashville? Has every sole been saved in Antioch? Why are you going other places to save soles, when there are soles right here in America who need saving? Why are you going to far away places to save babies when there are babies right here in America? I have been quiet long enough. I have watched you and your wife go all these different places to help foreigners when there are soles right here in America that need to be born.”
Jack and I have a policy that we do not defend ourselves against people who criticize or say bad things about us. Especially when they are nothing more than a coward with a keyboard. This man’s audacity to step in when he had no idea about our work, what we do on a daily basis, nor what God had called us to, was jaw droppingly unbelievable to both of us. And if you know me, the poor spelling drove me just as crazy. SOLES? Really? Did he think we were working on shoes over there?????
The most ignorant statement in the whole email was this direct quote…”I have to tell you, the devil is making you take the Lord’s money and reach His people with it.” ummmmm…okay. I’ll do that all day every day. If the devil is who is making us reach more for Jesus..well okay then.
My first response was to feel badly about where I was and what I was doing. Isn’t that just like the devil? He is an accuser, full of blame. He can’t stand it when we’re happy, especially when what we’re happy about is furthering God’s work around the world. That feeling of blame lasted for about a nanosecond and then I realized immediately who my fight really was with. It wasn’t with this guy. He was nothing but a tool used by satan to try to deter us. No, my fight was with a very real enemy who hates me and cannot stand that SaveOne is taking territory from him. My husband and I were both able to focus on the Summit and the email we were able to laugh off.
Sure I love my country. I want to help people here and we do. Daily. Weekly. Monthly. Yearly. I am all over making America great again! But our help does not and will never stop at America’s borders. Where in the Bible does it say Jesus died for America to be at the front of the line? In fact we are told to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. We are never told in God’s Word to only work in our backyard and never go anywhere else to tell others about Jesus.
At SaveOne I made a promise to God when He called me to this work that goes like this. I repeat it consistently to remind God, I remember my promise to Him. “I will go wherever, I will speak to whomever, and I will do whatever it takes to get the job done.” SaveOne and our church, Crossroads, will not stop, we will not relent, we will march forward hand in hand helping, serving, and loving our brothers and sisters who are red, yellow, black, and white…from Haiti to China, from Austria to Kenya. We will never stop the work we do in America or feel we have to tell people the things we do so they will think highly of us or our church. As long as Jack and I have breath in our bodies we will tell others of the goodness of Jesus, the greatness He has planned for each S-O-U-L, and the transforming power of His grace. If God takes us to other countries than our own to do it, then we will pack a bag and go. Period.
If you have been criticized for the work you are doing, think through to who the enemy is. It’s usually not the person doing the criticizing, so don’t defend yourself to them.
Fight where your words are most powerful, moving the heavenlies on yours and others behalf. Make a commitment today that you will never stop marching forward doing the work God has called you to. The world needs your voice!
May God richly bless you, whatever country you are reading this in!
