Sunset Presbyterian Church

Those of us who live in this window of history must consider ourselves uniquely appointed by God. God chooses not only the places but also the times in which we live. He has privileged us to live...with the greatest opportunity for the spread of the gospel. ~Erwin McManus*

To read some stories, learn about our missionaries or discover opportunities to help spread the gospel, look through the pages listed on the right. Please visit the ESL (English as a Second Language) section of the website, too.

For more information on Sunset Missions, contact Cindy Heinz, of our Missions Department at 503-292-9293 x3008.

Do I have What it Takes to be a Missionary?

Most people equate "missionary" with "wandering in the middle of a third-world country." For those of us who question whether we have what it takes, let's get down to the basics:

• Most importantly, a missionary is someone who loves and trusts God and God's son, Jesus Christ. God loves us so much that he sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit (sometimes called God's Helper) to tell us more about him and to show us the right way to live.
• A missionary seeks and follows God's leading, be it deep in the inner city or far into the outback.
• Missionaries are generous people, meaning they are willing to both give to others and live on less themselves in order to give. They trust that God will provide what is needed and may give up extra things to do their work. Missionaries know that what God gives will be enough, and go out of their way to show love for God by serving him.

As an example, the Layman family has acted as missionaries once each year since 1992. Dr. Charles Layman helps people by correcting their medical problems with surgery. Debbie is a nurse who teaches about nursing and the Bible. They have been in many countries all over the world. They serve God by helping people and give of their time and money to serve God.

Ask yourself whether you could give up some of your things, time and money to help others. You don't have to go to the ends of the earth; there are missionary opportunities in the Portland outback, too. If you love and want to serve God, then you've indeed got what it takes.