7 Ways to Reach the World Without Leaving Home

I used to think that I had to sell my house, put my children in boarding school and walk around in homeless poverty, to impact the nations.

I had a heart for missions.  But, with a baby tied around my hip, a toddler, or a school age kid begging for attention, I didn’t see how to implement the Great Commission.

However,  I am learning, it doesn’t matter your circumstances, or where you live.  There are still ways to touch the world with the gospel without ever leaving your home.  

Here are seven ways to be a missional woman, for the glory of God, right where you are.

1. Host an exchange student.  It’s a great way to bring the world to you.  Students stay anywhere from a few short weeks, to a year.  You can be single or married to host, in most cases. Here's a helpful website.

2. Sponsor a child from another county.  To “go” into the all the world, doesn’t just mean with our bodies.  It also includes, with our words and our wallets. Sponsoring costs only about the price of a handful of latte’s each month. The funds help educate, clothe, and teach your sponsor child the truths of the gospel. You often can correspond with your child through mail, which is a great way to impact another for eternity. Here's a couple good organizations, Compassion. World Vision.

3. Adopt children.  I have been to the orphanages and seen the need. I have touched the babies, where a few days later, they cease from breathing. It’s heartbreaking. Would you consider looking into international adoption? There are many great resources that help fund bringing a child permanently into your family. Show Hope. Adoption.

4. Host a child.  Unlike exchange students who are usually healthy teens, there are also host programs for special needs orphans. You apply, then pay a fee for these children to come live with you somewhere between a few weeks and a month. Many also have potential for adoption, if God leads you in that direction. Ukraine. New Horizons.

5. Support international missionaries.  My teen daughter got a bag made by and brought over from a missionary to Africa. Purchasing the bag supported small businesses of tribal women. The neat part? The name of the lady who made the bag was in the pocket of the purse.  We were able to pray for her. How can you fund missionaries, long term or short term? Have a garage sale, cookie sale, write letters to encourage missionaries?

6. Social Networking.  Never underestimate the power of social media. Blogging, Facebook, and Twitter are just a few avenues to reach the world. Through them, you can impact people from all around the world without ever leaving your home. I have been so humbled to see my blog reach countries like Russia, Africa, and the Philippines; places I may never get to fly to, or reach without social media.

7. Pray.  Do you have a passion for prayer?  What if you and a few moms gathered together in your living room and prayed for international ministries, people globally, or missionaries?  Often, in this speedy culture, we can underestimate the power of the work done on our knees through prayer!

Not everyone can or will be able to spend weeks living behind the walls of an orphanage in a different country. However, everyone can somehow move forward, in obedience to the Great Commission. 

How will you answer the call to “go” into all the world?  

About Jen

Though born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations.  Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented twelve children; ten foster, one adopted, and two bios.  Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world so desperate for the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women's. Jen continues to cling to faith that the local church is God's vehicle to reach the nations. You can find Jen writing about faith and challenging her readers at her blog,Rich Faith Rising.  As well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda .  Also, on facebook.   

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