Sent--Would You Go? - Cornerstone Confessions

You ever wonder how foreign missionaries can give up everything to live and minister overseas? Or, what they are really thinking when they DO decide to go overseas? I’ve often wondered these things as well as thought, “could I ever do it?”

Could you do it?

I mean what about my kids? Would it be a wise thing to move to some remote third-world country with my kids as young as they are?

What about my family? We intentionally live only a few hours from our families because we enjoy spending time with them. Could I get used to living halfway across the world and only seeing them once every few years?

What about my friends? Who would I be able to talk too when times get tough? I mean I know “God” and “my husband” are the obvious answers but still, I would really miss that face-to-face interaction with some of my friends whom I hold so dear.

All those things we hold onto…could you do it? Could you really give it all up if God were to call your family overseas?

Follow Me.

Hilary Alan has faced and asked those exact same questions of herself and her family. Her husband was at the top of his field, they were raking in the dough, and living the American life big time. And they gave it all up. Yes, all of it. They sold EVERYTHING and went to one of those unnameable Muslim dominated third-world countries halfway across the world with their two teenage children all because of two words–”Follow me.”

I became immersed in her story as she shared all the events leading up to their departure, their time in training, and their adventures overseas as shared in her book, Sent. It was a easy read that I finished within a few days just because I couldn’t put it down.

In addition, I gathered so many applicable quotes from this book, it makes me want to read it again. For instance…

“Try to recognize people not as interruptions…but as someone God has put in your life.”–Hilary Alan

Or how about this one…

“Your life indictates what’s important to you by what you are willing to give up.”–J.D. Greear

Probably the part of the her story that pricked my heart the most was where she shares the story of her teenage daughter who was at the top of her ballet class. She was going to have to give up her dream to be a ballet star for the sake of her parent’s calling to overseas missions work. It nearly broke my heart. I mean, could I really do that to one of my daughters? Ask them to give up something dear and precious to their life for the sake of spreading the gospel? It’s one thing for me to go and give it all up, but to ask your family members to join me?! Oh how it would tear at my soul.

Without giving away too much of “the rest of the story”, her daughter ended up getting to pursue ballet after all and Hilary can’t wait to return to the field. Hilary shows time and again, how God is so good and how He loves to show us just how awesome He is when we answer His call.

Although this book doesn’t hit the shelves until February 19, I highly recommend adding it to your 2013 book lists now as it will for sure be a 5-star book you won’t want to miss. But be fair-warned–you might be convicted to go and if God calls, answer Him. You won’t regret it.

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Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Matthew 28:19-20

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. However, all opinions expressed are 100% my own. As always, I choose to only review products that I feel are beneficial to my readers and my family.