Missionary to Thailand Says Missions is for Life

March 1, 2023238 views0

Missionary to Thailand Says Missions is for Life

2023-03-01T10:47:34+01:00

By Church News

As a 22-year-old Journeyman, Jeri Whitfield saw long-term missionaries commit their lives to God and the people they served. That was her model for missions, a missionary presence that creates gospel access and transforms lives.It’s still her desire today, 40 years later.It’s also why she’s returned to serve in Thailand through the International Mission Board three times.The first time she left, she’d finished a two-year Journeyman term. She was in her 20s.She returned to Thailand as a career missionary in her 40s. At age 55, she faced health concerns from cancer at the same time the IMB was reducing the number of missionaries on the field. She made the difficult decision to take an early retirement and return to the U.S.Once again, now in her 60s, she’s returned to the field.This time she brings with her a passion to connect students to what God is doing around the world, especially in Thailand, where she’s beginning her 17th year of service with the International Missions Board (IMB).Aftfromer retirement from the IMB, she became a college professor. She took a group of students from California Baptist University on a short-term mission trip to her beloved Thailand.Her students were learning local customs and a spirit doctor hosted them in his home to talk about practices within his field. Whitfield was struck by the fact that usually spirit doctors in this culture recognize the “Jesus Spirit” as more powerful than the spirts they call upon. But this man was different, and he stuck out.Those years with the IMB have included times of collaborative ministry with national partners, times of serving alongside her mom who would come aid her as a volunteer — even into her golden years — sweet moments showing Jesus’ love to villagers by washing their feet before gifting them flip-flops and adventurous times pulling up to do ministry in a remote area on a motorcycle.She’s also seen how God has used unique experiences in the U.S. to better equip her for serving in Thailand.She’s committed her life to be a steadfast missionary presence, even though the commitment hasn’t been easy. God isn’t finished using her to reach the nations.“My experience with missions was that when you’re called, it’s for life,” she said.“ALSO READ: Relief Charity Sees Renewed Interest After Pope’s Visit