Middle East (MNN) – As New Year’s Day approaches, you may be setting resolutions for the year ahead. Have you considered serving the unreached?
Mark Huffman, executive director of Interserve USA, says your career could open doors where the Gospel is not known. While “traditional” Gospel workers may have difficulty going to certain countries, people with professional skills are often welcomed and appreciated.
“We have opportunities all over the 10/40 Window for so many different professions,” says Huffman.
Interserve sends Christians to live and work among unreached Asian and Arab peoples. They serve in healthcare, education, business, and other critical fields. The ministry originally began in 1852 with sending women to serve South Asia. After 100 years, men were accepted to go. From the beginning, the vision has always been to send working professionals where they are most needed.
“It allows us, really, to enter a culture as Christ entered the earth,” says Huffman “He came and he served people. He healed people. He fed people. He taught people. And that’s what we do as well. We follow that example.”
In the Middle East, the love of Christ shines in the darkness through the lives of Interserve’s workers.
“As we send professionals that come and live a godly life, it sticks out,” says Huffman, “And they begin to see Christ’s love. And it starts to open them up to see and to realize the stereotypes that they were taught are wrong and the image that they have of Christians are wrong, and opens them up to the message of Christ.”
It isn’t easy though. Huffman recently visited workers in the Middle East and personally saw the difficulties. The past four years have been especially hard for many living in the region, including the local Christians. For Americans, there is also increased suspicion and scrutiny due to Israel’s support from the United States. But even as pressure rises, so has spiritual hunger.
“As we know, God works in adversity, and in one of the really difficult countries there, so many people are coming to Christ,” says Huffman. Interserve workers have also been allowed to remain.
“We’re there to add value in that community by creating jobs, by providing health care, by providing education, and they see that value as we serve the people.”
Read their stories and pray for Interserve workers by signing up for updates at InterserveUSA.org. You can also learn more about the opportunities to use your career for the unreached. If you live outside of the United States, click here to find a national Interserve office near you.
Not sure if you’re ready to go long-term? Interserve offers short-term openings from one month up to one year. No matter how long you intend to stay, every worker is assigned to a team so that they do not serve alone.
“The workers are few and the harvest is plentiful,” says Huffman. “So if someone is interested in taking their career, whether they’re a social worker, a plumber, a carpenter, whatever kind of career, we would love to talk to that person.”
Header photo courtesy of Interserve USA.
