For almost 75 years, Rosedale International (RI) has helped CMC churches send workers into the harvest field. Churches have been planted, people have been baptized, and believers have been discipled. As our focus has shifted towards the unreached peoples in our world, we have seen the number of workers going to the harvest increase as our churches have answered the call to send workers. But we still have work to do! We daily pray and ask “the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2 NKJV).
Despite the unique circumstances caused by the COVID-19 virus, we continually work to follow His calling and serve CMC. Through all the years of our existence, RI has never seen anything quite like this. We have encountered unique and unexpected circumstances before, but a pandemic like this is unprecedented. For a mission agency that operates globally, this is especially challenging.
“However, we will not be deterred. We have seen courage and resilience from our workers on the field. The vast majority of our workers have chosen to stay in spite of the precarious situation.”
However, we will not be deterred. We have seen courage and resilience from our workers on the field. The vast majority of our workers have chosen to stay in spite of the precarious situation. Of our international workers, only a few are back in the states and that is because of extenuating circumstances out of their control–not a personal choice. We are blessed with a faithful group of long-term workers who stay in the midst of uncertainty.
RI as an organization faces an uncertain future. What does this mean for upcoming global work? Will our operating budget goals be met with this economic upheaval? What about next year’s REACH program? Will potential workers continue to heed the call to go, after events such as this? What do we say to those who are in the process of raising funds and preparing to go?
These are sobering questions. Despite these uncertainties, we choose to act out of faith and trust in our Father. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7 NKJV). God has always provided and he will continue to do so. The book of Hebrews reminds us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1 NJKV). Now is the time for faith.
Our work is not finished. In a short amount of time, every corner of the world has learned about the coronavirus, yet many still have not heard of Jesus. We MUST continue with our work until the ends of the earth know him.
More than ever, we need a faithful network of partners who will commit to financially supporting RI through new gifts and continued giving. We equally need a dedicated community of prayer warriors, who will intercede for our workers, for new workers to be called, for the harvest to mature, and for the resources to make it all happen.