TO ENCOURAGE ALL BELIEVERS AS MISSIONARIES
Derrick & Jean Hiscox
I honestly don’t know how to acceptably commit to writing any of these facts, because above all else, Jesus Christ MUST BE the central person in this testimony. HE IS the centre of our lives, and we want to stress the fact that, as it was with John the Baptist, “He must increase and we must decrease.” We want to keep it that way!
Someone once asked regarding how to “become happy and function daily as a successful missionary.” For me, it is the same as when I came to know the Lord.
Early in my new Christian life, I had wonderful mentors; I was regularly challenged and inspired to live 100% for my Lord. My mentors stressed that anything less was not good. They also emphasized that Scripture must be the central guide of my life and to live it out daily, as it is God’s Word, not just a good book. This is still my desire, even though I have failed Him countless times.
When I was a new Christian, I hand-copied sections of the Gospels, which I felt was necessary at the time because of a nervous tremor and poor muscle control resulting from severe childhood sickness. This helped me spell and print words clearly, but also to memorize the Word.
Nothing has changed over the years. In Matthew 22:37 Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” In short, STAY IN LOVE WITH HIM and desire to love those for whom Christ died on the cross. This became and has been the primary motivation for our privileged and wonderful life.
Simply put, Scripture impacted my mind and became personal during those early days. Verses like Isaiah 53:4-5 struck me: “Surely He hath borne our [my] griefs, and carried our [my] sorrows: yet we [I] did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our [my] transgressions, He was bruised for our [my] iniquities: the chastisement of our [my] peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are [I was] healed.” (KJV)
And Ephesians 1:3-5 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed [me] us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us [me] in Him before the foundation of the world, that we [I] should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us [me] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (KJV)
I became overwhelmed by the Lord’s love for me and others. His willingness to die on the cross for me personally captured my heart. Because He loved me so much, I was motivated to give Him my all. I felt I had no alternative but to love Him back.
As time progressed, the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 also impacted me. These verses say, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Again, this to me meant, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37). I felt I had to love Him completely to trust Him and to be led by Him.
I was now actively witnessing and sharing my faith wherever I could. I had a regular daily job which was a blessing. During those early days of my Christian life, I spent many hours studying the Word and in prayer, alone and with others. I enjoyed my life so much! Then there came a time when I felt I should spend extra and exclusive time alone with the Lord. I didn’t understand why, but I sensed I should. I also felt I should leave my job. Again, I couldn’t understand why. For about two months, I struggled and argued with God. It seemed like stupid thoughts to me. “Why? Why?” I already spent much time alone with the Word and in prayer. As I argued with the Lord, I recognized my Christian joy was sinking. I was backsliding because of disobedience, and I knew it wasn’t right. To cut the story short, I submitted in the end and I resigned from my job.
Now I could spend all of my time in the Word with prayer and fasting. After about three weeks, I felt free to find a job again. Amazingly, they wanted me back where I had quit. I didn’t ask for it — they asked to take me back. I had been obedient and received a great blessing. I had guidance for my life’s work and my job back. What incredible peace and joy I had in those days.
From that point, God led my wife, Jean, and myself further along in His plan for our lives, and we went into missions — however, that story is for another article another day.
One great thing about being in our 80s is many memories. We can recall how God’s hand has worked out His wonderful purposes. It’s amazing!
Derrick Hiscox, missionary to Brazil,
NCEM missionary and Tribal Trails founder
