When Being Sent Requires Loss

"As the Father sent me so send I you" (John 20:21).

Sent is a word straight from the lips of Jesus. He was the model of what being "sent" means. He was sent on a particular mission: "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Then He sent His followers. All of His followers. Not just a select few.
Jesus was willing to incur losses to be sent to a lost and dying world. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).

He let go of what was His. He gave away comfort, status and prestige—moved toward obscurity, poverty and even humiliation.

Being sent and being willing to sacrifice and endure losses is normative in both experience and example of Jesus and is also consistent with New Testament narrative.

...We use the term “Send Cities” to describe 32 cities which reflect the greatest spiritual need and most potential influence throughout North America. NAMB's strategy is to intentionally send people to these under-served, under-reached cities.
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Recently, I was in one of our Send Cities with planter’s wives. We spent one day together in the Word, getting connected and having ministry conversations. There were only two indigenous wives in the room. The remaining dozen or so had been “sent” there. I asked that group of women “What is the greatest personal cost to you and your family in coming to this city to plant a church?” No one said a word. I waited. Still no one spoke...read more

Kathy lives in Mobile, AL with her husband Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church. Both lost former spouses in car accidents, and God uniquely gave them new love and life together in 2009. Kathy enjoyed 26 years of life and ministry alongside Rick Ferguson. She has 3 children and 9 grandchildren. Presently, Kathy serves at NAMB as National Consultant for Ministry to Pastor’s Wives.

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