Psalm 9:11      

 ¹¹ Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.        

At the seminary graduation, the valedictorian proclaimed that the seminary produces graduates and prepared them for international ministry abroad. Coincidentally, most professors in that seminary were educated from international institutions. Unpredictably, one long time international seminary professor was not very pleased by the valedictorian’s point of view—that graduates in that seminary were equipped for international ministry. The valedictorian could have meant most graduates but not entirely all seminary graduates. Well, he did not specifically elaborate in his speech. And so, he was misunderstood.

Was it his good intention to appreciate how seminarians were equipped for international ministry? Did he particularly point out that the seminary is not suitable for domestic ministry education? Or, did he conclude that he was well-equipped for international ministry but not trained for local ministry?

The Psalmist encouraged worshippers of God to praise and proclaim among the nations what he has done. It sounds like international mission, but it does not particularly exclude domestic mission, does it? Actually, the Lord Jesus Christ admonished in Mark 16:15-16, ¹⁵Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Domestic and international missions are included in “all the world and all creation.” Our mission field is where God situates us. God called believers for international ministries as well as domestic ministries. If God called you for international missions, you have enthusiasm to minister to internationals. God called us to be involved in ministries he prepared in advance for us to do. Can you peacefully internalize that? Pray that the Lord would clearly reveal, if he called you to international missions or local ministry.

Lord Jesus, make our calling crystal clear to us.

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