I grew up hearing missionary candidates present their work and ask for prayer and monetary support. I thought it was great for them to follow God’s call to the mission field!
Then as an adult, I heard many more missionary presentations and attended congregational meetings that voted on supporting missionary candidates. I considered it admirable for them to go, and I gladly voted to support them.
Later as a deacon, I learned of missionary candidates gaining full support, and I participated in their dedication services as they followed God’s leading into missions around the world. I marveled at their faith to dedicate their lives to missions, and I felt privileged to have a small part in the process.
But during all those years, I never once thought about the parents of young missionaries and how those parents felt about God calling their children into missions.
- You have reached the end of this article preview. This article was published in the Winter 2025 Baptist Bulletin. Subscribe to the Baptist Bulletin or purchase a gift subscription. If you already subscribe to the print edition, sign up for free digital access.
David Gonnerman and his wife, Robyn, attend Maranatha Baptist Church, Grimes, Iowa. Their son, Andrew, his wife, Janae, and their three children are second-term missionaries in Japan.
