Finally, where does God want us to work? What does He want us to do?
First and foremost, our role is to see the good news of Jesus Christ shared among Middle Eastern people, wherever they live. God has led us to understand that Canada is our Jerusalem, our starting point, and that the Holy Spirit will send people out from here…to the uttermost parts of the world. We also know that He wants us to work among those who are desperate and in despair.
MECO Canada’s history began with an English widow named Elizabeth Bowen Thompson, who in 1860 felt called to help Lebanese widows and their children. The widows’ husbands had been killed during a civil war in Lebanon. Having lived in Lebanon, Elizabeth knew their families would be destitute. She left England and went out to Lebanon to find the women and children employment. It was only after she was there and had found them work doing laundry for the British Navy that she realized the key to their future was education. As a result, she started 23 schools in nine years.
Today, people are still going out to serve in one way and then discovering that God is leading them into service they never imagined. For that reason, we are committed to being sensitive to what God is calling people to do; helping them determine whether He is opening doors or closing doors. We are also committed to being flexible, recognizing that God has plans we know nothing about. To know the will of God for our work, and the work of others, prayer is a priority. To quote former missionary Jonathon Goforth: In all things seek to know God’s will and when known obey at any cost.