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The Most Tenacious Missionary

May 13, 2017 by Joel Potter

My mom isn’t the first missionary I met.

But she is one of the most tenacious missionaries I know.

And when she and my dad decided to pursue missions full time, I was 14 years old. That was brave. To willingly submit to God’s call for all believers to actively be a part of the great commission, mid-stream, well on their way to some form of American dream, should they have wanted it, took guts.

To choose to finish off the childhood years of the kids, they had poured themselves into in their own discipleship efforts, in a developing world nation, when their first born son had just gotten his first job, his first girlfriend even, took a trust that God would work through their willingness.

The work she was a part of took gumption and God’s handiwork. Working amongst developing churches in an english speaking country but on a continent other than their own presented it’s own challenges and those were on top of the challenge of a first born who struggled to find his way in this new country, new culture, new reality.

But they trusted the God who called them to this work.

Then with an empty nest, their kids all back in the home country going to school, the weight of so much crashed in on her and she broke. Broke to the point that she had to leave the country and take the next 4 years to recover perspective, health and faith even.

But God was faithful in His love towards her and towards His own glory. And by his strength and for His glory, He brought them both, back to the mission field, back to the country they had grown to love. In tenacious faith, she dared to believe that “Faithful is He who called” her. And they served in His blessing for a number of years after that, until when they came home to this land, they still didn’t settle down.

To this day, in their fourth ministry context since responding to the ever-present call, my mom tenaciously serves God , eschewing comfortable grandparenthood for active mobilization efforts. And I’m so proud of her.

PS. your grandkids, who love you dearly, will also rise up and call you blessed one day when they learn your whole story!

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: Ethnos360, Family

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The Potters…

are missionaries helping every people group around the world have the chance to understand the gospel and have access to a thriving church. We are serving with the International Ministries Office as it assists Ethnos360 and its Global Partners.

joeldpotter

This weekend, we celebrated some milestones. Both This weekend, we celebrated some milestones. Both my Dad and Lynn, Bethany’s Mom recently reached 75 years. 

That’s a big deal, right?!

I didn’t know this at the time, but in the picture with “Mom” looking at the camera over the cupcakes, that was a long moment in which she and I held eye contact. I genuinely thought it was something special. 

It turns out that this morning, we found what we think will be a safe, comfortable, home-like and loving assisted living facility where she is able to move in very soon. This is one of the biggest answers to prayer in recent years for our family. Caring for her for the last 11 years, even though it hadn’t always been as hard as the last few, has cost us. The Lord enabled us to pay that cost but it has cost none the less. 

That moment locking eyes with her means a lot though. 

I have to also recognize the tender gift that my Dad has exercised as he and my Mom have cared so often for Lynn. His ability to gently draw her out on a walk in the neighborhood or to sit and sing a hymn with her, has blessed more than her. 
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#tendingalovedoneindecline #everymomentholy
We just posted a big Year in Review post on our bl We just posted a big Year in Review post on our blog and to the email list. As you know, a whole lot of life happened in 2022 and it's likely that 2023 will be no different. We'd love to fill you in. 

Take a look at it on the blog OR you can listen to it. Listening is a super-simple way to keep up with us when you can't read. Like while you're taking the kids to school or walking your pup. 

You can find links to LISTEN or READ at my profile site.
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#thepottermission 
#yearinreview
A couple of weeks of running and riding. Grateful A couple of weeks of running and riding. Grateful for the ability and opportunity. 
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#getoutandride 
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