In the last two years, three Crossworld heroes who represent the foundation of Crossworld’s 90-year history in missions have passed away.

Bob and Florine Hawkins and Esther Scovill were missionary legends. Their stories from Brazil and Papua have been told many times over — entering isolated cultures, learning difficult languages, translating Scripture, and launching a disciple-making movement. (Read more of their stories in The Greatest Missionary Generation.)

These three heroes carried the torch of the gospel well.

But I believe there will never be another Bob or Florine Hawkins or Esther Scovill. 

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Simply speaking, the “good ol’ days” are past.

If there will never be another like them, who will take their place? What does Missio Dei, the mission of God, look like for the 21^st century?

About a decade ago, a Christian leader said, “We need to pray that God will raise up another Billy Graham.” When Billy got wind of it, he responded, “I believe that one of the next great moves of God is going to be through the believers in the workplace.”

I believe we do, and will, have heroes of the faith who carry the torch of the gospel into the future. But I believe they will serve God’s purpose not only as professional missionaries but also as missional professionals.

As I travel around the world, I’ve met many of them:

• engineers working for a multi-national company in East Asia
• English teachers in the public schools of Thailand
• tourism guides in North Africa
• professors in an Asian university
• factory owners in East Asia
• IT experts in Central Asia
• agriculturalists in Zambia
• doctors in West Asia

They are everywhere Jesus is not known — doing everything He gifted them to do. They are the heroes of today’s generation, and we want to send many more of them. Professionally prepared, strategically placed, prayerfully supported.

All professions. One mission.

Do you want to be one of them? Come join the “Mission of God” with your profession.