You have this window of opportunity.

I have heard that phrase countless times over the years, usually tossing it off as a salesman’s pitch to close the deal. Both secular and religious leaders have used the concept as a way to force the decision or empty the wallet.

Yet I have suddenly felt that those words are not simply a nice cliche, but reality. Missions has taken on urgency, knowing that our time and opportunities are limited.

Last week our country experienced violence in the city center as thousands protested the results of the latest election. We were glued to the internet, trying to sort out facts from rumors, wondering what would happen next. My mind raced to our friends’ similar situation in Madagascar this year, ending in their temporary evacuation. Would we be next?

Thankfully our scenario did not escalate, but I was struck with the rapidness of how everything can change. My urgency level elevated to level RED. I now realize the pressure of time, never knowing when the door will slam shut. There is a need to press forward today, not postponing until later.

A girl in the Home of Hope has shared two of her dreams with Nancy. Both dreams were visions of her in a dark place, with the arms of the HOH staff pulling her out into the light. What if someone wasn’t there for her? What if we had waited?

Can we afford to wait? Can we delay?

• In the region of Ungheni, there are 74 towns, yet only 3 churches. In a country with few cars, that means 71 villages in just that region that have no chance to hear. Can we delay in church planting and outreach until the perfect time and adequate resources?
• Can I afford to delay the building for the church in the city of Bubieci? What happens when they lose their current building?
• At the Home of Hope, the lives of many girls hang by a thread, with the forces of darkness trying to drag them back. Can I wait until I feel capable of the task?
• Teen Challenge center’s well ran dry while thirty people are living there, finding freedom from drugs. Where are the funds to repair?

Whether Jesus returns to earth today or we are forced to leave Moldova tomorrow, there is urgency to the task. Whether I have another 50 years upon this earth or if my life is snatched away tomorrow, the clock is winding down.

Don’t wait to serve in your church until you have more free time. Don’t wait to give until you have excess. Don’t wait to pray until you have your life in control. I can plan for the next decades, but I must live as if today may be the last day to make a difference.

Today is the day. We might not have another.

Realizing the urgency,
Andy Raatz