{"id":47848,"date":"2004-05-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2004-05-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/letter-from-slain-missionary\/"},"modified":"2004-05-31T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2004-05-31T00:00:00","slug":"letter-from-slain-missionary","status":"publish","type":"sermon-illustrations","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/letter-from-slain-missionary\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from Slain Missionary"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This letter was written by Southern Baptist Missionary to Iraq, Karen Watson, prior to leaving for the Middle East. The letter was dated March 7, 2003. Karen was killed, along with four other missionaries, on March 15, 2004.<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger:<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn&#39;t called to a place. I was called to him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, his glory my reward, his glory my reward.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>One of the most important things to remember right now is to preserve the work&hellip;.I am writing this as if I am still working with my people group.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Surely your reward in heaven will be great. Thank you for investing in my life and spiritual well-being. Keep sending missionaries out. Keep raising up fine young pastors.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In regards to any service, keep it small and simple. Yes, simply, just preach the gospel&hellip;.Be bold and preach the life-saving, life-changing, forever-eternal gospel. Give glory and honor to our Father.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The Missionary Heart:<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Care more than some think is wise.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Risk more than some think is safe.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Dream more than some think is practical.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Expect more than some think is possible.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I was called not to comfort or success but to obedience&hellip;.There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving him. I love you two and my church family.<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In his care,<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Salaam,<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Karen<\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"template":"","tax_ctp_audience":[],"tax_ctp_authors":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[165],"tax_ctp_format":[171],"tax_ctp_illustration_types":[409,411],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[140],"tax_ctp_tags":[3640,3737,3749,3887,4061,4085,4476,4499,4552,4697,4840,4841,4849,4869,4986,5069],"tax_ctp_topics":[378,382,388],"class_list":["post-47848","sermon-illustrations","type-sermon-illustrations","status-publish","hentry","tax_publications-ct-pastors","tax_ctp_tags-commitment","tax_ctp_tags-death","tax_ctp_tags-dedication","tax_ctp_tags-eternal-perspective","tax_ctp_tags-glorifying-god","tax_ctp_tags-gospel","tax_ctp_tags-mission","tax_ctp_tags-motivation-for-service","tax_ctp_tags-obedience","tax_ctp_tags-preparation-for-death","tax_ctp_tags-reward","tax_ctp_tags-reward-for-service","tax_ctp_tags-risk","tax_ctp_tags-sacrifice","tax_ctp_tags-single-mindedness","tax_ctp_tags-st-patricks-day"],"acf":{"scripture_references":[{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Letter from Slain Missionary - CT Pastors<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/preaching\/sermon-illustrations\/letter-from-slain-missionary\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Letter from Slain Missionary - CT Pastors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This letter was written by Southern Baptist Missionary to Iraq, Karen Watson, prior to leaving for the Middle East. 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