Peggy Boldizsar Nunley

“At Some Point Risk Doesn’t Matter, You Just Have to Follow The Call!” 

These words ricocheted in my heart as I tuned in more closely to the Persecuted Believer that was speaking them. At that point in his ministry, risk was a norm. Little did he or anyone else know that one day it would take him to a prison camp in North Africa. 

Charged with passion and zealous to share Jesus, this Persecuted Believer boldly followed Jesus more than any Christian I had met in my life at that point. It seemed almost unreal to listen to his stories and hear how Jesus had appeared in visions, dreams, and many other miraculous ways as he boldly shared the gospel with his Muslim friends. 

We were given the opportunity to serve along side him and many more bold Believers. We were learning, living, and looking for every opportunity to make our moments count as we labored in some of the darkest places in the North African/Middle East region of the world.

Our team was working closely with many Muslim Background Believers from the Underground Church along with Persecuted Christians, who continually took great risks for any new convert.  We set up Mobile Medical Clinics, often with armed guards, stationed around our clinics. The risk we were taking seemed so small compared to the risks that we knew local Believers were taking on a daily basis. 

Why am I sharing this with you? What does “Risk” have to do with the ‘American’ Christian’s everyday life, anyways? 

Well friend,…..EVERYTHING!!! 

I learned from my Persecuted Brothers and Sisters that Christianity is not just a social or cultural adjustment, but a radical embracement of making Jesus the center of all things. It is loving Jesus more than your possessions, your family, your children, your dreams, your comforts, your culture, and yes, even your own life. 

They taught me “RISK” is right, when it means Jesus getting greater glory by the “RISK” than if we sit idly by. 

Oswald Chambers says, “Never consider whether or not you are of use — but always consider that you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). “You are His.” 

Living a life fully surrendered to Jesus looks different when the pressure is on and the cost is high. 

Intentionality is embraced and living present becomes a norm. 

Let me encourage you today. How well are you embracing the call of Jesus when He said, “To live is Christ, to die is gain”? 

Missionary Martyr, Jim Elliot said, “Wherever You Are, Be ALL There.” 

This quote often haunts my thoughts when I realize how distracted I become with my phone, social media, or the million other ‘little’ distractions that keep me from being “ALL THERE”. 

Today let me challenge you to take a ‘Small RISK’ for the sake of “Your Calling“ to follow Jesus. 

Would you risk laying down your “Virtual” Connections, to be “Actually” Connected to those around you?  Would you stop for a moment, consciously breath in the air God has provided and thank Him for the “Privilege” of being in the 34% of the world’s population that has actually heard the gospel and believes?  

My life quote (also by Jim Elliot) says, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Today as you walk out your faith, along with millions more that are being persecuted because of it, remember to be “Present”, to “Embrace”  call OVER comfort, and take a “RISK” for someone to come to know Jesus!

Remember, ‘RISK is right, when Jesus gets more glory for your Action than Inaction.” 

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)