If there’s one thing most modern missionaries have mastered, it’s using technology to stay in touch!
While our forebears on the field had to wait a fortnight (or four) for a letter from family back on the farm, we can talk to just about anyone at anytime thanks to the marvel of modern technology. Such has made the sting of separation a bit more tolerable for missionaries.
With the mandatory social distancing and self-isolation brought about by the CV-19 pandemic however, even family in the same town, neighbors across the street, and co-workers sharing an office are suffering the pangs of solitary life.
When ZOE missionaries were recently required to work from home, we realized that one of the most important things we could do for one another was to continue to encourage each other as we do at work every day. I like how the Passion Translation puts it in Hebrews 10:24-25:
“Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.”
In light of God’s admonition that we encourage one another, ZOE’s missionary men decided to continue holding their weekly devotional meeting every Friday. This past Friday, nine ZOE missionary men met face-to-face via videoconferencing for over an hour to read and discuss Scripture, encourage one another with testimonies and prayer, and just have our usual great fellowship together!
So whether you’re in Chiang Mai or Chicago, Tokyo or Topeka, reach out and touch someone via the marvel of modern technology.
You never know: the loneliest person might be right next door!
– Ron Boyer
