Missionaries to foreign nations seem to have all the adventures when it comes to reaching the world. But we can find opportunities right in our own neighborhoods. My wife, Pat, found an opportunity in our own neighborhood through a women’s book club. At first all the women were a bit nervous when they found out she was the wife of an evangelist. They never chose any of her book suggestions. It took a long time, but eventually one of the women came to know the Lord. Following this, the women in the group began to open up to my wife. We even had a women’s lunch at our city-wide festival and all of those women from the book club came.

In the Bible it says, “run the race with perseverance, the race marked out for us.” In this case, my wife’s race was slow to start and her book club required lots of patience and perseverance. Nothing ever happens in our timing—but in God’s timing it was perfect!  As we look for the tasks Christ is calling us to, let’s not overlook those opportunities closest to us. Even in our own families things can take a long time. But let’s never give up hope. Persevere for those in your neighborhood as you reach your world.

This is Luis Palau.