For over three decades I’ve had the privilege of living out Jesus’ mandate to go into all the world and make disciples. Stamps in the passport tell one story, but people tell the real one. When I look back, I don’t just see nations—I see pastors who opened doors, churches that laid hands on me, organizations that believed early, and mentors who invested when the vision was still fragile and forming.

If you’ve walked with me for any length of time, you’ve heard me say it: everything begins as something small. A whisper. A stirring. A holy dissatisfaction with staying comfortable. Dreams don’t arrive full-grown—they grow in proportion to what you feed them. I chose to feed the call. I watered it with obedience. I protected it with faith. And when it felt overwhelming—because it often did—I reminded myself that if it were easy, everyone would do it.

Here’s what I’ve learned: big assignments are built on small, faithful decisions.

The first strategic decision I made was to root myself deeply in a local church. You cannot effectively go to the nations if you are not first submitted, serving, and accountable at home. Global impact without local covering is unstable. The local church became my proving ground—where character was formed, gifts were refined, and humility was tested.

Second, I intentionally pursued relationships with people who were already living the life I felt called to. I didn’t wait for invitations—I asked. I knocked on doors. I requested discipleship. I carried bags. I paid my own way when necessary. I told seasoned missionaries, “I need what you have—please invest in me.” Some said yes. Some said no. Rejection didn’t stop me; it refined me. Hunger has a way of opening doors that talent alone cannot.

Then I trained. I went to Bible college. I learned the Word deeply, not casually. But beyond theology, I learned something far more powerful: servanthood. I learned to choose a towel over a title. Platforms come and go, but the posture of a servant sustains you in every culture, every airport, every boardroom, every village.

If you sense God stirring something in you—don’t wait for perfect conditions. Commit to your local church. Submit to leadership. Cultivate covenant relationships. Find missionaries and organizations who are doing what burns in your heart and position yourself to learn from them. Dreams rarely unfold in isolation—they accelerate in community.

The Great Commission is still great. The world is still waiting. And your calling will not grow by accident—it will grow by intentional faith, strategic alignment, and courageous obedience.

Feed the dream. Plant yourself. Serve faithfully. Build relationships. And watch how God turns what feels small today into something that touches nations tomorrow.