Community Discussion

Hi, I'm planning on going on a short term trip to India for 2 weeks. I'm 19 and it will be my first time overseas. Whenever I read my Bible, I keep getting confirmation that I should go on this trip. However, I have doubts. I am currently being treated for depression. Is it appropriate for a young woman with depression to go on a missions trip- particularly to India? A leader at my church doesn't think I should go, and that has added to the doubts that were already there. Should I ignore these doubts and trust God's Word?

Dear Laura, Greetings in Christ. Thank God for been very honest to open up your for sound spiritual counsel. It is encouraging to know that more young people are burning with God's passion for the lost souls in their heart to go out. If God has birthed a burning zeal in your heart for a particular group of people in a foreign nation, nobody including Satan will be able to stop it. But my godly advice to you is maybe it is not yet the right time for you to go. I will encourage you to to listen to the spiritual counsel of your senior Church Pastor or whoever you are accountable to. If the conviction that is in your heart is from the Lord, just be patience, keep on praying for God's right timing, allow God to prepare you first so that you can be FIT both spiritualy, physicaly and mentaly before you can be commissioned with God's blessing and your local church blessings to go. REMEMBER this, going into a foreign mission field is like entering into the battle field as God's army. I pray that Holy Spirit will help you dicern the right voice from God and you will know for sure with deep PEACE in your heart the right decision to be made. May the Lord open your spiritual eyes and hearing to know His right ways. Love in Christ, George.

Hi Laura: I am Rev. Roy Ross now living in the Philippines with my Filipina wife for the last 3 years (4 if you count 1994)LOL. I want to answer your question and concearns by answering them as someone who is treated not only for depression but also for Bi-Polar condition and have been for the past 13 years.(I have been in the ministry for about 30 years-none of it paid) 1.Are you on medication and if so how long have you been on this medication? 2.Does your doctor say you are Stable? 3.Do YOU feel you are stable? If the answer to questions Number 2 & 3 is YES, thin consider the following advice and questions. 4. Neither A young woman or a young man should ever travel to another country (ALONE). 5.I know many will disagree and even get upset with me here but no matter what ANYONE says (THERE IS A DIFFERANCE BETWEEN A WOMAN TRAVELING ALONE AND A MAN). 5. If you do, you should never go unless you or someone you know and trust has met and know the family or persons where you will be staying and will be responsible for you while you are there.(in other words trust) 6. You are only going to be gone for 2 weeks, it is not like you are going for 6 months or longer. 7. If your doctor says your stable and you feel you are... 8. If you have the money for your trip... 9. If you want to go, then DO IT! 10. Even if you find out it is not God's calling you will be better off, because if you want to and don't you will only become more depressed BELIEVE ME I KNOW! If you would like to ask more questions or I can help in someway (other than money-we have forgotten what that is)LOL. our site is www.royandcathyrossministry.20m.com GOD BLESS...Rev. Roy Ross