This Thanksgiving season, I am reminded that some of our greatest blessings are the people whose faith quietly inspires our own. For me, one of those people is Virginia Wells, a faithful AFM supporter since 2005 who recently celebrated her 97th birthday.
As I spoke and prayed with Virginia, I was moved by her love for Jesus and her commitment to AFM’s mission of reaching the unreached with the gospel. Her voice grew tearful as she shared how much she loves reading stories of God working in the lives of missionaries and those they serve. She is especially touched by the sacrifices missionaries make so others may know Jesus.
When I asked what she was thankful to God for this Thanksgiving season, she shared:
“As a teenager, I was inspired by reading stories of faith and courage, and I still enjoy reading the stories of our missionaries sharing their experiences of bringing light to the darkness. I am thankful that I have been able to support AFM missionaries over the years; it has been a blessing to me.”
After so many years of giving, her testimony beautifully illustrates how, when we participate in God’s mission, the blessing does not travel in only one direction.
God designed His work so that those who go, those who serve behind the scenes and those who faithfully support the work are all drawn into the blessing. As Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Virginia’s story is one example of that truth. But what happens when we look at the whole picture?
Tom Shaffer, a dedicated supporter of AFM since 2004, shares why he is thankful and what impresses his heart to support the mission field and be a part of AFM.
“I praise God for the work being done by Adventist Frontier Missions because there are blessings from God to everyone who is involved. The brave missionaries are sent out with the precious last-day message, and their blessing comes as they see the power of God as people receive Jesus. As these isolated people groups learn of the Savior’s love, they, in turn, are blessed as they spread the message to others. The AFM support staff are blessed as they receive the reports from the field and are able to train new workers and provide the necessary support to those already ministering for God.
“But what of us who faithfully support the mission financially? We too are truly blessed . . . First, we are blessed as we read the exploits, the trials and the victories of God’s work. Next, when we support particular missionaries, we are blessed because [it] drives us to pray for these precious workers and their challenges, which brings us closer to God. Finally, we are blessed because it fires us up for work in our local areas and provides us with new, fresh ideas of how to reach souls for the Lord; again, these blessings continue to grow and spread. Blessings all around! Praise God!”
As I reflected on my conversation with Virginia and Tom, I began thinking about just how far those blessings travel—and how they touch everyone who becomes part of God’s mission, never stopping with the person who first receives it.
The missionary is blessed in going. The unreached are blessed in hearing. Those who support the work are blessed as their prayers deepen, their faith grows, and their own desire to serve is awakened.
After years of supporting missions, Virginia and Tom do not simply look back at what they have given. They look back and see what God has revealed of Himself to them through the experience, and they look forward to soon witnessing the harvest in which God has invited them to join Him.
Truly, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
