A Mission for Christ
"If missions languish, it is because the whole life of godliness is feeble. The command to go everywhere and preach to everybody is not obeyed until the will is lost by self–surrender in the will of God. Living, praying, giving and going will always be found together." Recognizing when God is calling you to go on a mission is something that changes one’s life forever. The word missionary means one who is sent on a mission, specifically, one who is sent to do charitable or religious work in a different location. The act of missionary involves attempting to persuade or convert others of a different doctrine, program, or who have different sets of principles. Being summoned by Jesus Christ is a replication of how He was sent by God to preach his messages to the people. Jesus was the paramount missionary in Christian history and all missionaries after him believed they should simulate his techniques to preach the messages to non-believers. One of the most influential Christian Missionaries in history was St. Francis Xavier. Among his most significant contributions to his missionary past were his accomplishments in India, Southeast Asia and Japan. Born in 1506, Xavier was born in Spain, to a wealthy, noble family as the youngest of five children. After his completion of introductory courses of study at the young age of 19, Xavier left home permanently. He achieved a masters of Arts degree in philosophy at the age of 30, going on to teach the subjects for four years and then learning about theology. Xavier traveled around the world going from Rome to Lisbon, Portugal and eventually ending up in India. Xavier was the only original missionary to have left Europe.
Francis Xavier’s life radically changed when he was requested by King John III of Portugal to travel as a Jesuit missionary to the Portuguese region in India. The King believed that the beliefs of Christians Portuguese people were diminishing. On April 7th 1541, a 35 year old...