Dustin has left a deep impression on missionaries serving across Live|Dead with his dedication to God, as he has come to serve alongside us for summer missions trips. Now, he is a student who pours into his small group, loves his God and is newly married to a fantastic woman.

I was standing in a breakfast nook in a 7-story apartment in Central Eurasia, reading and praying over the city. I began to feel overwhelmed at the lack of a Gospel witness. Chances are, as far as I could physically see, there wasn’t a single believer. In a city of 17 million people there are a small handful of believers. Then, I saw the sun begin to rise over the horizon and pour into the nook, and the Lord spoke to me Psalm 113:3, “From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same, the Lord’s name shall be praised.” Later that night after a very busy day the sun began to set beautifully behind me and He brought the verse back to me again. God was reminding me of the promise He has made, that He is faithful to keep that promise. That all those who have and will give up their lives to this cause weren’t in vain and they will be rewarded. His name will be praised.

The next night I heard a sermon from a man I love and respect dearly. He had no idea of the events from the day before. This is a synopsis of what he shared with us. We read of Jesus’ last words recorded in Matt 28:19-20, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Paul was the number one missionary in the Bible and Church history. Paul said that nothing in this world is worth anything compared to souls. No amount of money, no position, or life he could live was worth more to him than reaching souls. Everything he sought was in the future and his reward was eternal. Paul’s first priority was Jesus’ last words. The eternal weight of souls was worth far more to him than the temporal things this world had to offer.

God’s passion is for the lost and so was Paul’s. God’s passion is for the Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik, Iranian, Afghan, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, Turk, and Pakistani people to return to Him. He longs for their return. Who will go? Who will share? There are millions of people in Central Eurasia who will never hear the Gospel unless we do something about it. He wanted me to ask myself, “Are Jesus last words my first priority? Am I about my Fathers business?” Central Eurasia is in need of workers to help bring the prodigal son home.

Then he said, “The sun rises…” and I knew it was happening again, God was speaking directly to me “…and it sets and He is still waiting for His children to return home to him.” I couldn’t fight it or run any longer. God had given me a clear sign of what He wanted from me and now I had to be obedient. Do I share the dreams of God?  Am I about my Father’s business at all cost? Are Jesus’ last words my first priority? Will I die to myself so that others might live?