Acts 11:19-26, the story of the church at Antioch, touches me at the deepest level. This passage teaches about nameless individuals who went to Antioch to share the story of Jesus. As a result of their work and that of Barnabas and Saul (Paul), disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Many years ago, this story encouraged me — an ignorant and unlearned believer — to participate in Christ's Great Commission (Mathew 28:18-20). The Antioch story has undoubtedly influenced countless other unnamed believers throughout history to participate in the Great Commission.
In fact, unnamed believers have had greater influence on my life than have many well-known Christians. Apparently, God planned for anonymous believers to have significant roles in his kingdom. My third grade Sunday school teacher comes to mind because she not only taught me Bible stories but also showed me that persons not in my family could love me. Youth teachers and leaders sacrificed family time to work with us even when we were less than cooperative. I think of musicians who faithfully delivered instrumental and vocal messages and pastors who exhorted listeners to consider God's message in new and different ways.
But of all the no-name Christians who have influenced my life, none stand out above the senior-citizen saints who continue in God's service well into their golden years, convinced that Christ's commission has no retirement age.
Recently, three senior saints — Miss Mabel, Miss Ruth and Miss Frances — all loved and respected members of our church family, have gone to be with the Lord. I wish everyone had known them, but in a way everyone did because all churches include saints like Miss Mable, Miss Ruth and Miss Frances who continue to minister in Christ's name to the ends of their lives. Miss Mable, Miss Ruth and Miss Frances — two in their 80s and one past 90 — never quit serving God. When their health rendered them unable to provide one type of ministry, they simply discovered other avenues of service.
Miss Mabel had taught 5-year-olds in Sunday school for almost 50 years before health issues caused her to stop. When she joined a class for her age group, she soon began opening each class with an inspirational reading. She diligently searched for just the right message. Miss Mabel's commitment to this ministry was obvious as she enthusiastically shared each week's selection.
Miss Ruth was the class “informant.” Bowed by osteoporosis and slowed by other diseases of the aging, she sat at the head of the classroom table, took attendance, solicited prayer requests and informed members about the physical and spiritual needs of absentees. In fact, Miss Ruth was so skillful at motivating the church to help the needy that our pastor referred to her as “his energizer bunny.” At 60, Miss Ruth began directing a nursing home ministry that lasted nearly 30 years. She published a monthly calendar for participants, personally reminded them of their scheduled commitments, and attended each weekly service.
By her own admission, Miss Frances did not share the other two ladies' leadership gifts nor was she as willing to continue driving as they were. So she became the “card lady” who mailed words of encouragement to her class members and others. Her children joked that greeting card stocks would plummet and the U.S. Post Office lose money when Miss Frances could no longer send her cards. When she believed that written messages were not enough, Miss Frances also made personal phone calls to encourage others.
Not only did she send cards and make phone calls, but Miss Frances was a life-long learner who diligently studied the Bible and her Sunday School lessons. If an emergency occurred, Miss Frances was always well-prepared to lead the class.
What Miss Frances shared with Miss Mabel and Miss Ruth and all other “commissioned,” nameless Christians was her faithfulness to her Lord and his church. All three ladies consistently kept Christ's commission in uniquely individual ways and faithfully attended church gatherings to the end of their lives. Though each one experienced her share of difficulty, each one also gave thanks in all circumstances.
What these three ladies had in common with each other as well as with countless unnamed Christians was the call to fulfill the Great Commission until the end of their lives. No exclusions! No expiration dates! No retirement from his service!
Mabel Freeman a member of Emmaus Baptist Church in Poquoson.