After Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and followed Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations. They travelled to many parts of the world, often to places they had not planned or expected to go. In fact, we might say they even went beyond the areas they first thought of for their missionary journeys, reaching people far and wide.
Sometimes, as missionaries, we don’t know where our journey will take us. We might find ourselves in places that feel strange and are not part of our planned mission areas. But when we are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He can lead us to unexpected places, and maybe we are meant to be there for a special reason.
In our recent Mill Hill Zoom gathering, which was joined by members from different parts of the world, our guest speaker Fr. John Conroy, MHM, who has been in ministry for 41 years, shared his story. He told us how he ended up in China, spreading the Good News while working as an English teacher, even though it was outside the usual mission area of our Society.
Fr. Conroy has worked in many different countries, including Cameroon, Uganda, India, England, and China. Before he joined Mill Hill, he spent many years in the military and also worked as a teacher. Later on, he finally listened to God’s constant call and decided to become a missionary priest.
During his sharing, Fr. Conroy spoke about his time teaching English to Chinese students and how he used Bible stories, like the parables, as part of his lessons. In this way, he was able to share the Gospel and tell the story of Christ. He built good relationships with his students and the local people, as they were very interested in his stories and enjoyed having casual conversations with him, which were often full of humour. They were also keen to learn more English from him.
Towards the end of the Zoom meeting, members had the chance to ask Fr. John some interesting questions. They asked about things like the underground Church in China, how he dealt with intimidation and possible oppression, and how he was able to express his Christian faith and carry out his ministry as a missionary priest in a place like China.
As missionaries, we often work in places with many challenges that make it hard to share the Gospel. But the Lord keeps His promise, “I am with you always, until the end of the age,” and He never lets us down. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we find creative ways to share the Gospel, sometimes in ways we never expected—like being an English teacher, a mechanic, a builder, or using other talents God has given us.
Edson, MHM
Part of Fr. Conroy’s sharing on Zoom.
