The Glory of God in Us

On a Sunday morning a couple of years ago I was sitting in a circle on a sunny hillside outside the capital of one of the most unreached cities in Asia. I was there for worship with a new church planted by Avant missionaries. I have been in many churches around the world through the years, almost aways in a language foreign to me, and that Sunday was no exception. As I sat there, in a beautiful space of communal worship without comprehension, the most amazing voice of praise in my ears was from one of the youngest. The daughter of a missionary was belting out the song, perfectly on pitch and singing every word…and the look on her face was pure joy! Just a taste of the glory of God in us.

I grew up as a missionary kid and spent many Sundays in churches in northern Cote D’Ivoire, West Africa, trying to pay attention to messages in dialects I didn’t understand. But I knew the songs and loudly sang along. Those memories remain strong in my mind and have been a part of the driving force behind my commitment to serve as a missionary – to declare Him where there is no church.

This past year has been one of great joy at Avant. One of Avant’s MKs, now a seasoned missionary himself, planted a new church in Brazil alongside his wife, four boys, and his mom and dad (also Avant missionaries!). We also celebrated church plants in the Middle East and Spain, along with missionaries sent to new fields of service in Africa and Southeast Asia. We joyously welcomed 22 new missionaries into the Avant family, eight of those from the global south. I can’t wait to see the glory of God through them!

As we wrap up 2024, we reflect with humility and gratitude all the ways God has used Avant to make Himself known around the world. It is the glory of God in us, the glory of God through us. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 NIV)