“Yes, I think taking a year as a student missionary would be a great idea, but why are you interested?” I made this observation and asked this and many other questions countless times during my career as a college teacher and advisor. The SM experience certainly changes a person’s perspective. I saw many students return with a clearer vision of the life and ministry to which God had called them.

Kylie sat in my office. “Dr. Abbey, I think I want to change my major.”

“Oh, what are you thinking of?” I asked.

“I think I want to switch to education,” she replied. “My SM year teaching overseas has convicted me that teaching is where God is calling me to serve. It wasn’t always easy, but I felt that I made a difference in the lives of those kids.”

Returned SMs also show a broader understanding of why God asks us to commit our lives in service. Sarah’s year in Chad was more than challenging. It meant severe bouts of malaria, an emergency appendectomy, and living in a mud hut with an African family so she could respond to day-and-night calls to the hospital. Observing the needs and the dedication of the physicians serving there, Sarah concluded that she wanted to dedicate her life to medical mission service.

One of my greatest joys as an AFM field director is the time I spend with SMs at our projects. The Tai-Kadai Project typically has a real challenge recruiting all the SM teachers its English school needs each year. It isn’t an appealing call to some jungle or ocean island. It means working in a city, not some exotic locale. And people always ask Tai-where? But every year I am amazed at the transformations that occur in these teachers’ hearts as they learn the local language and start making real connections with their students. As their new friends ask them challenging questions, they have opportunities to share and model how God provides practical support and direction in life.

On the Tai-Kadai Project, SMs lead out in Bible studies with their students. Along with the career missionaries, the SMs are taking risks and using their initiative to start new programs.
“Michael, would you be willing to help Michelle and me with an early-morning Bible study with the church boys?” asked Angeline shortly after Michael arrived at the project.
“I suppose I could, but don’t you think one of the career missionaries would be a better help?”

“Most of the careers have children to care for in the morning, and they are all so busy with other stuff. I would really appreciate it if you could help. You will catch on to the language as you listen. I will lead out at first, and you can just be there and pray. These guys need a model of what a Christian young man looks like. You can be that model.”

Leanne leads out in a special weekly prayer time for the entire Tai-Kadai team and has been instrumental in establishing a culture of prayer among the SMs. Samantha and Audrey are always creating special opportunities to participate in the lives of their students. Alice has a gift for bringing unity, support and encouragement to the entire team.

Five years ago, Michelle sat on the sofa in our living room in Lincoln, Nebraska, showing us pictures and souvenirs and talking about her year with the Tai-Kadai Project. Her joyful spirit was inspiring. Her enthusiasm and passion were compelling her to recruit others to go. “Would you ever go back?” I asked.

“I would love to,” she replied.

Through creative involvement, the Tai-Kadai SMs have discovered tremendous joy in service. They have a profound spirit of unity and purpose and are making an incredible difference in the lives of their students and in the broader community. Over and over we see students who initially planned to spend one year extend their time to two or three years as they are drawn to ministry by their profound love for the people they have come to serve. Are you willing to be captured by a love for serving the unreached? Are you willing to go wherever God leads? Go ahead, take the risk! The payoffs are out of this world.

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