Become Laborers

By Claire Ryan

In 1956, five men entered the jungles of Ecuador, determined to win tribes over to Jesus. They moved to Ecuador with their families years before, and their ministry was slowly thriving. These men felt God leading them toward one tribe in particular. They located that lost tribe but were brutally murdered while trying to share their faith.

When their wives heard of the tragedy, they didn’t pack up all their belongings and “high-tail it” out of Ecuador. They picked up where their husbands left off and made it their goal to finish the work for which their husbands gave their lives. They returned to the lost tribe and told them about Jesus.

And the tribe accepted the good news.

In Matthew 9:37, Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Those lost tribes of Ecuador needed Jesus. They were a harvest in need of laborers, and Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, and three other men and their families were those laborers.

King David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, his hands were bloody with his mistakes. Because of this, the Lord would not allow him to build His temple. So, David prepared his son Solomon to build the temple of the Lord. David told his son in 1 Chronicles 22:16, “Arise, therefore, and be doing. And the Lord will be with you.” In the same way Solomon fulfilled what the Lord called him to, you must also arise and do the will of God in your life. There is work to be done.

Last year, I had the privilege of going on a trip to Ecuador with The Hanna Project (THP). THP takes multiple mission trips to Ecuador yearly. They help stabilize and expand the Christian school there, complete construction projects, and visit neighboring jungle villages to provide medical help. This is possible because of the laborers who went on before us—the five men and their families who arose and were doing the work God gave them.

In his journal, Nate Saint wrote, “I’m concerned about safety, but I don’t let it keep me from getting on with God’s business.” These men recognized telling the world about Christ was far more important than their own safety. The gospel was, and is to this day, the single most important truth of this life; they gave their lives expecting others to follow in their steps. They died trusting others would accept the call to labor after them, co-laborers to finish the task God has given us.

I challenge you to follow the example of these men who put Christ above all else, and to be like their wives who pressed on despite their losses. I challenge you to arise and become laborers for Christ and His Kingdom.

About the Writer: Claire Ryan lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee. A 7th grade English teacher, she is in her third-year of teaching. She is the assistant women’s basketball coach at Welch College. Her hobbies include reading, writing, athletics, and time spent with family and friends. Coffee is her go-to and donuts are one of the major food groups.