Carey and Jessica Hendricks and their twin daughters, Elle and Anne, were guests at Bethany Baptist Church, Sunday. Carey and Jessica are on deputation raising support so that they can go as missionaries to the Republic of Ireland.
Carey started attending church when he was nine years old. His brother was saved and soon afterward Carey made an insincere profession of faith. Even though he was active in the church, he knew he was not really saved. A church Youth Camp message brought him under conviction. Later that evening, he talked with his youth director who opened the Bible and showed him the same scriptures with which he was very familiar, but this time he believed for himself and was really saved.
When he was 16 years old Carey, surrendered to serve the Lord wherever the Lord wanted him to go. He went to Bible college. He was not clear on where the Lord was leading until he spent one year in England as part of his college work. There he met Jessica who was working in a ministry there also. They both felt a burden for the people of Ireland.
Jessica had grown up in the Lake of the Ozarks and Lebanon area here in Missouri. She had also surrendered for mission work, attended Bible College, and had worked with New Testament church planters both here and in England.
In due time they were married and were working with the church in Georgia when some missionaries in Ireland asked him if he would come to help them. They agreed. They have been on deputation for a year and hope to be able to move to Ireland by the end of this year.
Why would a promising and talented young couple agree to leave a comfortable home and families to go out as missionaries? Because they love and are grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ who was willing to leave the side of his heavenly Father and his home in Heaven to provide salvation for each one.
Missionaries go because people die. Adam ate the forbidden fruit, died spiritually, and brought spiritual and physical death upon the whole human race. When people die they face hell if they have not accepted Jesus Christ.
Missionaries go because they know that when we die we will all have to give an account for what we have done in our own lives.
If people are going to be saved, they have to hear and believe the gospel message that Jesus died for lost sinners and arose again from the grave to give them eternal life. Whether they live next door, in the next town, or in Ireland, people need to hear the gospel.
