“Dealing with them pushed me to pray more and research more about mental health so that I could understand them better.”
Valentine, known as Val, never expected God’s call to change her life. At the Adventist World Radio (AWR) Center for Digital Evangelism (CDE), she reflects on her missionary growth. Before CDE, she knew God’s people served, but in the mission field, she saw the urgent need. Daily, she met those seeking someone to listen, pray, and assure them they weren’t alone. A major surprise was her interaction with those struggling with anxiety and depression. In her home country, mental health was rarely discussed, leaving her inexperienced in such conversations. Overwhelmed initially, she questioned how to help while learning herself.
That’s when she turned to God. “As I minister to these friends, I learned to trust in God and not doubt what my contacts told me. I learned to listen to them without judgment and help them find their identity and worth in God alone,” she shared. Val gained a new understanding of mental health, witnessing Jesus’s agony in Gethsemane, burdened yet reliant on the Father, which strengthened her trust in God.
One morning, she received a message from a woman struggling in her marriage. Although tired, Val felt compelled to listen. This led to daily Bible studies, reflections, and prayer sessions. The woman found comfort in God’s Word, uplifting Val through their friendship.
Missionary life was not easy. Some days were exhausting; some conversations heavy. Yet, God shaped her into a better servant. She learned four lessons: Forgive and forget even if not at fault, stay humble and respect others’ beliefs, cherish true friends who uplift in prayer or become one when needed, and prioritize time with God, reflecting on His truth in nature.
She found strength in her mother’s and friends’ prayers during spiritual weakness and recognized the importance of temperance in her time use. A passage from Christ’s Object Lessons (342.2. 2) reminded her: “The value of time is beyond computation… We have no time to waste… It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life.”
As Val advances in digital evangelism, she understands that being a missionary involves listening, understanding, and loving others as Christ did. Through prayer and conversation, she fulfills the Great Commission in unexpected ways.
She holds onto this truth: God doesn’t just call the equipped; He equips the called.
