The “little people” matter to God
Rev Dr Chan Nam Chen of Asia-CMS reflects on the best mission strategy: being led by the Holy Spirit
Photo: Chan Nam Chen leads Asia-CMS
“God’s heart is unchanged for the ‘little people’ and the single lost sheep in different places. But it requires Christians to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading…”
by Rev Dr Chan Nam Chen, executive director of Asia-CMS
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”
Luke 15:4
A few weeks ago, I took a long drive through the interior roads of Peninsular Malaysia, on my way to preach in Kota Bharu, a town located in one of the less developed states of West Malaysia. On arrival, my host shared what was to me a very thought-provoking testimony – one that deeply challenged my thoughts about God’s heart, God’s ways, and mission strategy.
My host originated from Kuala Krai, one of the small towns I passed through. She told me the story of Saara M, a gutsy single lady missionary from Finland who was miraculously led by the Holy Spirit in the early 1970s to pioneer a church in that small town. When she first arrived, Saara was in her early 20s and could barely speak passable English and Chinese. My host’s mother, an initially sceptical idol-worshipping Chinese was one of her early converts. The fruits of Saara’s labours remain to this day. There are a few churches in Kuala Krai that have their beginnings in her converts and disciples.
Saara M and a few other missionaries from Finland were instrumental in pioneering a few other churches along the north-eastern parts of West Malaysia. That region remains relatively remote from the mainstay of Malaysia’s economy and has few Christians. Saara M and her colleagues returned to Finland decades ago, but I still bump into their legacies. Time and again, I meet dedicated Christians and pastors who trace their spiritual birth and call into ministry through these Spirit-led missionaries.
From a human perspective, if an organisation or a group of missionaries seeks to impact a country, the sensible strategy would be to start in a large city (such as Kuala Lumpur), build a base, and then fan out into the interiors. It does not make good strategic sense to start by focusing on a remote part of the country. But as narrated to me, the miraculous details in the leading of the Holy Spirit upon Saara to Kuala Krai made it unmistakable.
The story of Saara M reminded me of two key principles about God’s heart and his strategy for his mission. First, the ‘little people’ matter to God. Second, obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading precedes the Holy Spirit’s empowerment.
The Lord Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to seek out the one single sheep that is lost (Luke 15:1-7). The ‘little people’ of Kuala Krai are far removed from the major towns and cities where the large churches and Christian organisations have their activities. But the Holy Spirit led Saara M to remote Kuala Krai because the ordinary folks there, the ‘little people’, matter to God and are precious to him.
The importance of the ‘little people’ and the one single sheep is echoed elsewhere in the Bible. The Lord Jesus went out of his way into Samaria to meet a Samaritan woman with a dubious reputation (John 4:1-43). God also instructed Philip the Evangelist to make his way to a lonely desert road, to meet and enlighten an Ethiopian seeker of God (Acts 8:26-39).
God’s heart is unchanged for the ‘little people’ and the single lost sheep in different places. But it requires Christians to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Much as we pray and long for God’s provision when we seek to serve God’s mission, the story of Saara M reminds us that obedience to the Holy Spirit’s leading precedes the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. God’s authority, provision, and presence are promised to us as when we obey God’s mandate to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).
