“Here’s how we’ll do it,” I said. “One by one I will have each of them come stand in front. Anyone who wants to share an encouraging story or testimony about them will have a chance. Then each of them will tell us why they want to be ordained. We will all lay hands on them, pray for them, and I will ordain them according to each one’s giftings.”
For the past year, we have been praying about ordaining more of our local missionaries. The ministry among unreached people groups is growing, and we need a supernatural kind of breakthrough in the tribal areas we travel to. We need an apostolic anointing to impact the ethnic minorities who have yet to hear the name of Jesus.
In May 2010, we ordained Brother Yang as the apostolic leader over the tribal ministry of Within Reach Global. In only one year, we have recognized his growth and influence as a Christian leader. He travels around the province, overseeing our many church plants on the borders of China, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
But our ministry team of local missionaries is growing, and we are recognizing new leaders faithfully rising to the occasion as well. God is promoting them for the task of reaching the unreached, the untouched, the unloved.
We called our co-workers up to the front:
Brother Li
Brother Hu
Sister Li
Sister Zhang
Their faces shown with godly humility as we shared stories of their faithfulness.
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“He treks up narrow foot paths for over ten miles, spends the night on the mountain under a tree, wakes up the next day, and preaches the gospel to the unreached villages near Vietnam.”
“Whenever I am struggling with a personal problem, I know I can can call her. She is always there to listen, give advice, and pray for me. I really appreciate that.”
“He has the joy of the Lord all over him! When he preaches the gospel in his own tribal language, they listen and are amazed at the power of God.”
Each of us shared about a time that was memorable to us. We appreciated our four local missionaries who were getting ordained.
We laid hands on them and began praying for each one. The room was filled with God’s presence and anointing. “Lord, set apart your servants today! Fill them with Your glory to march forward with the torch of Christ, shining the light of Your salvation into the darkest regions of Southeast Asia!”
Alongside all our local missionaries and visiting partner pastors from America and the Philippines, I laid hands on each of them. “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I ordain you as an apostolic leader! Receive a greater anointing as God sets you apart for His service!”
The volume was turned up. Everyone began praying aloud as tears of joy fell. Hands outstretched. Passionate prayers. Love, joy and freedom. The presence of God was evident and tangible and memorable.
Afterward, we hugged them and told them how proud we are of them. God is truly using these faithful servants to reach their own nation and beyond.
“I pray that every one of you has the opportunity to get ordained,” I told the rest of our local missionaries. “God has a time table for each of you. As you are faithful in the small things, He will promote you to greatness!”
It is such an honor to serve the underground Church. We believe that the task of a foreign missionary is to work himself out of a job; to raise up local, indigenous ministers whose reach will stretch beyond the ability of the foreign missionary. Our job is to stand behind them, encourage and empower them, and watch as God uses them to fulfill the Great Commission.