From Little Rock to the Nations
- Ron and Star Nelson
- Jul 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Heavenly Father, as we engage with Your Word, open our hearts to receive divine instruction. Let our lives reflect Your love, our hearts burn with holiness, and our posture remain humble before You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Walking in Wisdom, Holiness, and Humility: A Mission-Focused Devotional Journey:
The call to missions is not always dramatic—it often begins in our own backyard.
We (Ron and Star Nelson) first answered the call to serve through then our home church, Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas (1998–2008). There, we worked diligently in local outreach, ministering to families and neighborhoods across the Little Rock community - ministries such as evangelism and married couples' ministries. But our hearts began to burn for more. By the year 2000, and after wrestling with God, the fire led us beyond U.S. borders to Haiti, launching what became two to three annual mission trips over the span of several years. When people ask me (Ron), “How did you get involved in missions?”—my answer was simple and profound: “One word—obedience.”
Obedience to the voice of God. Obedience to the Great Commission. Obedience to a burden that wouldn’t go away.
What began as local faithfulness grew into a global vision and the seed for Sowing Seeds of Joy.
If you would like to hear more of our story, we invite you to ....
Tune in to The Jeff Crilley Show to hear how God used ordinary steps of obedience to launch a global mission movement:
In this devotional blog, I would like us to explore two powerful scriptures—Luke 10 and Deuteronomy 6—that lay a foundation for a life of mission. These passages invite us to walk in wisdom, holiness, and humility as we live sent lives for God’s Kingdom.
Luke 10 – The Mission, The Mercy, and the Moment
Luke 10 reveals Jesus’ heart for mission and His blueprint for ministry. He sends out the seventy-two, shares the parable of the Good Samaritan, and affirms the necessity of worship over busyness in the home of Mary and Martha.
Key Themes:
Evangelistic Calling – Ordinary people are empowered to proclaim the Kingdom (vv. 1–16).
Compassionate Action – The Good Samaritan demonstrates mercy that crosses cultural lines (vv. 25–37).
Devotional Priorities – Mary is praised for choosing presence with Jesus over performance (vv. 38–42).
Missionary Insight: The missionary life is not reserved for the pulpit or the foreign field—it is for every believer. Whether in Arkansas or Africa, we are called to go with purpose, love with compassion, and sit with devotion.
Application:
Live missionally where God has placed you—your job, school, or neighborhood.
Don’t limit your compassion to those who look like you, think like you, or agree with you.
Before you serve others, sit with the Savior—let worship lead your work.
Reflection: Who is the “neighbor” I’ve been overlooking in my current mission field?
Deuteronomy 6 – The Heart of Obedience
As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, Moses gives a heartfelt command: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. And don’t just keep that love to yourself—teach it, live it, and remember it.
Key Themes:
The Shema – “Hear, O Israel…” centers God’s people on wholehearted love (vv. 4–5).
Generational Discipleship – Faith is taught diligently in the home and in daily life (vv. 6–9).
Covenant Memory – God warns against the danger of spiritual forgetfulness (vv. 10–19).
Missionary Insight: Missions that matter begin with obedience at home. Before we preach the gospel across cultures, we must live it consistently with our children, spouses, friends, and peers. The most effective missionaries are often those who begin by being faithful in the small things.
Application:
Begin or recommit to family discipleship—read the Word aloud, pray together, share testimonies.
Write down your "God-moments"—recount His faithfulness regularly.
Teach others intentionally—mentorship and multiplication are part of every missionary’s calling.
Reflection: How am I passing on faith to the next generation—or to those I influence daily?
Wisdom leads us to listen. Holiness sets us apart. Humility keeps us dependent on God.
As you walk through this week—whether you are serving across the street or across the globe—remember: mission is not just about where you go, but how you go. Go in wisdom. Walk in holiness. Live in humility.
Interested in learning more about living a life of mission? Contact Ron and Star Nelson of Sowing Seeds of Joy to discover how you can be trained, equipped, and sent.📩 InfoSowingSeedsofJoy@gmail.com
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