Evan Dias Didn’t Fit the Definition of “Missionary”

We put them on pedestals; set them up as saints.

Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor, and Jim Elliot – names the contemporary Church reveres. These missionaries left everything, took their coffins as they sailed across the world, never again to see their families this side of heaven. They disappeared into the jungle, adopted the customs of those around them, and ultimately gave their lives for the sake of the gospel.

Last century, missions looked like families leaving for five years, returning to the home country on furlough for a year, then back on the field once again.

Marked by sacrifice, they counted it loss for the sake of Christ: home and security as defined by the West, the consistent presence of family and friends, established income, even the latest gadgets, fashion, and conveniences.

Some people think they will be barred from the mission field because they carry too much baggage. Some think they will be judged by how they’ve lived. Some people think they don’t have what it takes; they couldn’t possibly give up what they have in order to embrace what God is calling them to do.

But Christians in this century are letting Jesus reclaim what being a “missionary” means: being his disciple.

Contrary to popular belief, being a missionary doesn’t necessarily mean having a shiny past. It doesn’t mean having a ton of biblical knowledge. It doesn’t mean having your life together and figured out. In fact, in spite of that people are taking a step towards the mission field.

Jesus didn’t call the squeaky clean, high achieving, had-it-all-together kind of person to join his little band of revolutionaries. Jesus called the second class, the messes, the broken, the rejected, the people with the not-so-great past: the people who also believed there was more.

Jesus didn’t wait until his disciples were more holy, had more knowledge of Scripture, or had their lives together. There wasn’t a training camp, seminar, or a class on how to be a follower of the Son of God.

He simply showed them how to do it.

They learned through doing, through experiencing, through stepping out in faith into the great unknown.

God can and will use anyone willing. He’ll use a preppy Ivy Leaguer or a dropout drug user; it doesn’t matter. Whether you have a degree in biblical studies or have never read the Bible, Jesus empowers those who respond to his call to spread the good news of his love and salvation.

Evan Dias didn’t fit the definition of “missionary.”

In fact, he was smoking pot in his room when he heard of the World Race.

When a friend told him she was going on an 11 month mission trip around the world, Evan went to the website and saw a video eerily close to his own life: a guy at a party who desperately wants something more. In that moment, he heard God say:

“You can come back to me. You can change your life. You need to go. And you need to go do this. This is what I have for you.”

He knew it didn’t make sense. But he also knew he’d heard the voice of the Lord.

So he went.

This is his story.

Jesus calls people from the darkest of places into abundant lives of purpose. That’s you, by the way. Christ called you. Christ empowers you. Are you ready to step into all he has for you?