This world is a tightrope walk, a cost-benefit analysis, if you will. Our activities, thoughts, and passions will always have a cost, whether that is measured in time, money/resources, energy, emotions, reputation, morality, or commonly, a combination of the above. What will supporting this cause give you? What will going to that church give you? What does it cost to leave everything that makes you feel safe?
For those contemplating supporting overseas work to bring Hope to the hopeless, I hope you DO think through these things. Jesus said that one must count the costs of discipleship before plunging right in (Luke 14:25-33). It seemed that Jesus "pushed people away" but he was really trying to make them understand the costs (Luke 9:57-62). Yet, in these examples, Jesus did not tell them NOT to follow Him, but rather, Jesus emphasized how important it was to not delay their commitment to following Him. Those same circumstances are still issues that exist today. There is no luxury of knowledge of having a place to stay when following the Holy Spirit's leading. There is no luxury of being able to get your parent's final days and inheritance in order before obeying the call. There is sometimes even no chance to return home, say all your goodbyes and get the blessing of all relatives before leaving. But we rejoice that despite all of these costs, these uncertainties, that there is certainty in the calling of Christ. His calling is sure, and His chosen messengers are not chosen by mistake.
So know that if you or your loved ones are in places statistically characterized as "unsafe" in order to bring Hope to the hopeless in the love of Jesus, they are safe. Maybe not safe in the longest possible lifetime on earth, but in the longest eternal life time that there could possibly be. Maybe not safe in your arms, but safe in the arms of their Creator. Maybe not safe in your hands, but safe in the holy hands that are holey due to crucifixion nails. What does man's "safety" compares to that?
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