Every disciple of Jesus has a calling, and there is nothing better than being obedient to that calling. Teresa and I answered God’s calling into full time gospel ministry on Easter Sunday 1987 (I know that makes us old!). After 36 plus years, our desire then and now is still to live for Christ and follow Him! It has been quite a journey, but then following Christ always is! Currently, we are in Honduras serving Christ and GB’s. We have been in Honduras for over 11 years total. At present, Teresa oversees the medical ministry, and I work alongside our Honduran GB pastors and churches, and serve as the director of Faith Home.
We completed our first 4 year term in Honduras in 2012, and returned to the US where I again started serving as a pastor. Sometimes circumstances dictate what one has to do (not always, but sometimes), and in our calling to return to Honduras, God clearly used a series of circumstances to help us know that returning here was God’s plan for us.
In December of 2015, due to a set of unique circumstances, I was asked by the missionary on the field to come to FH to help resolve some serious issues. The church we were serving graciously allowed me to come, and it was my intent to provide whatever encouragement and insights that I could and then return back to the US. After arriving, it became clear that VP of GB Global Missions, Mark Powell was also needed, and he came to Honduras as well. After a week or so, we (Mark Powell and myself) were sitting at the gate awaiting our flight back to the US. We were discussing the many things that had gone on the past few days, and at that point, Mark asked if Teresa and I would be willing to return to Honduras as missionaries again. I first told him that I didn’t think so. Mark then pulled a “pastor” on me and simply said, “Well, will you and Teresa just pray about it and let me know.”
I talked with Teresa when I got home, and we began praying and seeking God’s will. After a few days, my cell phone rang. It was Teresa calling. Odd, because I knew she was on her way to work. When I picked up, I could tell she had been crying. She said,”I just got the answer.” She shared how the Holy Spirit brought to life the words from John 21, “If you love me, take care of my sheep,” and she said “I know that for us that means His sheep in Honduras!” I too in that moment as we spoke knew we were going back. Part of the circumstances were also that Teresa and I had for several months knew that a move was in our future. We thought back to pastor a church in the midwest, but God knew otherwise.
It was not what we had thought, but again, circumstances began to reveal God’s calling. Circumstances took me to Honduras to help. Circumstances brought me and Mark Powell together. Circumstances from years earlier that God used to prepare us for this moment now. God’s calling doesn’t always come through circumstances, but sometimes it does. There is nothing better than saying yes to God’s calling — nothing! God’s grace and peace will overshadow all the challenges and difficulties that come.
We have found that once saying yes to God, God begins to give affirmations. In this case (calling), circumstances would not permit the normal months of deputation to raise support. We had less than 8 weeks to move from S. Carolina to Illinois and to get everything in order before leaving for Honduras. Through it all, God kept saying, “don’t worry about the finances, just go.” And, God has come through. Imagine that! Never has support been an issue in these last 7 plus years. For starters, when I announced to the church that I was serving that we were returning to Honduras, the church gave us $10,000.00 to help us. All along, God has provided our needs through the support of so many different Christians and churches.
What an adventure it is to follow God’s calling! Time is catching up with us. Soon (whenever God is ready) our ministry in Honduras will end, and we will return back to the States, but that is okay because we know God is already preparing and calling those who will come and continue the work that God is doing here!
Written by Rodney Walls