For most of my adult life, I was an American Airlines flight attendant. So, you probably think I have “seen the world.”

Last year when I retired from American, the LORD directed me to Global Disciples for an office assistant position. Now I have discovered how little of the world I’ve seen!

Indeed, my world was small—primarily airports and European cities with fine restaurants, tourist sites, and cultures much like my own in the United States. The unreached or least-reached people were not “real” to me. They lived in countries I could not easily find on a map. Do you know where Malawi is?

When I started working with Global Disciples, I was instantly transported to this previously unknown and misunderstood world. In my first Zoom meeting, I encountered prayer leaders from among the tribes, nations, and languages that I had only read about in Revelation 7:9-10. They were now real people with real families, real schools, real heartaches and losses—not simply a faraway people group or a faceless number.

As a Christian in the US, it is easy to have a consumer mentality. Where I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we have a smorgasbord of churches from which to choose. We can buy the Bible in multiple translations, and slap a bumper sticker on our new car to tell everyone we follow Christ. Our persecution is likely limited to an unkind Facebook post or a snarky television personality. In this comfortable world, we can become complacent…if we are not intentional.

How do we become intentional? How do we pursue the mission to be Christ’s ambassadors to the lost (2 Corinthians 5:20) from our living room? If you are like me, start with a map—maybe look up Malawi or Myanmar or another place you’ve only heard about. Endeavor to see and understand a REAL person from one of these places. Read Global’s stories on our social media pages. Go to Joshuaproject.net and look up people groups to learn more.

As I work with our worship leader, I am exposed to new worship music written in languages I have never heard, and yet my heart sings with theirs in praise to God. My brothers and sisters in Rwanda lifted their voices in worship in the streets and people were drawn to their joy.

Did you know that over half the people in Africa are under 25 years old? They are exposed to the same temptations and struggles as our children, but often without elders to guide them in truth. Global Disciples trains men and women to disciple and mentor these young people. Consider supporting through prayer or regular giving to multiply spiritual leaders.

American Airlines does not fly to most of the unreached areas of the world. But from right where you are, you can pray for soft hearts to hear and respond to Christ.

–Laura Xentaras, Office Assistant