In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the sacrifices made by His followers, including leaving home and family for His sake. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says:
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29, NIV)
This passage highlights the promise of great reward and eternal life for those who make sacrifices for the sake of following Christ.
If you feel called to leave a lasting legacy through a written personal testimony, sharing the key lessons you’ve learned through life’s experiences while giving God the glory, we encourage you to take the next step. Your written expression of faith can become a cherished blessing for your family, friends, and future generations, imparting wisdom and inspiration that endures. Visit our website page at “Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived” to find out how you can craft and share your story, ensuring that your spiritual journey continues to touch lives long after you’re gone.
Faithful Christians Who Left Home for Christ
The following is a small sampling of some of the Christians who have left home and family for the sake of Jesus Christ within the past half-century. Their dedication to the gospel has inspired many through their missionary work and ministries around the world.
1. Heidi Baker – Co-founder of Iris Global, Heidi Baker and her husband, Rolland, left their home in the United States to serve as missionaries in Mozambique, where they have ministered to the poor, built orphanages, and planted churches. (Source: Iris Global website.)
2. Brother Andrew (Andrew van der Bijl) – Known as “God’s Smuggler,” Brother Andrew risked his life smuggling Bibles into communist countries behind the Iron Curtain. He left his home in the Netherlands and founded Open Doors, a ministry that supports persecuted Christians worldwide. (Source: Open Doors International.)
3. Jackie Pullinger – In 1966, Jackie Pullinger left England for Hong Kong, where she has ministered to drug addicts, gang members, and the homeless. Her work with the St. Stephen’s Society has transformed thousands of lives. (Source: St. Stephen’s Society website.)
4. David Platt – Former president of the International Mission Board, Platt left his home in the U.S. to lead efforts in mobilizing thousands of missionaries to unreached people groups around the world. His Radical book and ministry have inspired many to live sacrificially for the gospel. (Source: Radical.net.)
5. George Verwer – Founder of Operation Mobilization (OM), Verwer dedicated his life to global missions, mobilizing thousands of Christians from different nations to reach the unreached. He left his home in the U.S. to travel and share the gospel in over 100 countries. (Source: OM.org.)
6. Kent and Amber Brantly – The Brantlys left their home in the U.S. to serve as medical missionaries in Liberia with Samaritan’s Purse. Kent contracted Ebola while treating patients during the outbreak in 2014, which brought global attention to their sacrificial work. (Source: Samaritan’s Purse website.)
7. David Wilkerson – In the late 1950s, Wilkerson left his pastoral role in Pennsylvania and moved to New York City to minister to gang members and drug addicts. He founded Teen Challenge, a ministry that continues to help young people overcome addiction through Christ. (Source: Teen Challenge website.)
8. Francis Chan – Former pastor of Cornerstone Church in California, Chan left his church and moved with his family to Asia to work as a missionary and serve in under-resourced communities. His books, such as Crazy Love, challenge Christians to live radical lives for Christ. (Source: Francis Chan website.)
9. Dan Bauman – A missionary with Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Bauman has spent decades traveling and sharing the gospel, particularly in the Middle East. He has faced imprisonment and persecution but continues to serve wherever God leads him. (Source: YWAM.org.)
10. Adoniram Judson Gordon and his wife Rachel Gordon – This couple has dedicated their lives to serving the Karen people in Thailand. They left the U.S. to work with World Outreach and have built a thriving ministry among this unreached people group. (Source: World Outreach International.)
11. Anne Graham Lotz – Daughter of Billy Graham, Anne left her home to take up the mantle of evangelism, traveling around the world to preach the gospel. She leads AnGeL Ministries and has spoken in over 30 countries. (Source: AnGeL Ministries website.)
12. Steve Saint – Following in the footsteps of his father, Nate Saint, who was martyred in Ecuador, Steve left the comforts of home to return to the Waorani tribe. He helped develop the Indigenous Peoples Technology and Education Center (I-TEC) to serve remote tribes. (Source: I-TEC website.)
These individuals embody the call of Jesus in Mark 10:29-30, leaving homes, families, and comforts behind to follow Christ’s command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). May they serve us as an example of the sacrificial love and devotion that is pleasing to our Lord.
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