Every Tongue, and Tribe, and Nation

High school sweethearts Carol and Richard McElroy always planned to spend their lives serving the Lord as missionaries. Yet after an initial posting in Costa Rica, it seemed that it was not to be.

Carol accepted Christ at a young age and in her teens felt the Lord calling her to life as a missionary. Richard grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ when very young. He re-dedicated his life at the age of 19. As a young couple, they were united in their desire to see the good news of Jesus Christ proclaimed in every tongue, among every tribe, and in every nation.

Returning stateside from their first missions tour in Costa Rica, Carol and Richard prepared to accept a second posting in Colombia; yet student unrest made obtaining the necessary visas impossible. Soon they faced a difficult decision: continue to wait for the door to open or remain in the United States and see where the Lord would lead.

Through 18 months of waiting and unemployment, God continued to provide for their every need. Eventually, they found jobs in Arizona. Carol and Richard became missionaries – in the public school system.

New challenges

In the mid-nineties, after 23 years as teachers, the McElroys began to hear rumors of early retirement packages. Carol and Richard seized the opportunity to earnestly look for post-retirement missions service in 1996. They tried different positions with various groups; even though the work they did was needed nothing really clicked.

Then, in the fall of 1999, their friend Judy, who called them every year to help raise funds for the JESUS film Project, challenged them to consider going on a project that coming summer.

“We were sceptical,” Carol recalls. “Wouldn’t the project only want college students?”

Reassured that “old people” were definitely welcomed, they agreed to pray about it. It was a project they had prayed for and it seemed to be a good fit of their time and talents. They certainly had a heart for the lost, they each spoke a little Spanish (which would be very helpful where they were headed) and they loved to travel.

That first project marked the beginning of the McElroy’s association with the JESUS film Project and Campus Crusade for Christ as “workers” as well as “donors.” At the end of the project, they were asked to help out with some work at the JFP office. Later they were asked to consider going on a pilot project to East Asia the following February.

This new project seemed a perfect fit. Through a program to teach English, the McElroys would be able to use their skill as teachers. At the same time, they would be sharing their faith with the seeking and distributing the JESUS film to those who had never heard the Gospel message.

Part of the team

Carol and Richard became Associate Staff in January 2002. Since then, they have been to East Asia three times, Iceland, Russia, Finland and Turkey. Trips to Thailand, Turkey and East Asia are planned for 2003 – Lord willing.

“Everyone should have as satisfying retirement as we do. We are blessed!” Carol and Richard enthuse. “Our pension checks pay for our living expenses and two or three trips a year. If more trips are taken, then we raise the money. Our prayer support team is awesome, and they give just the right amounts when they are needed.”

Their age and life situation have never been barriers, but in fact have become a point of encouragement. The cultures they have visited have a deep respect for the “elderly.” Though far from elderly, Carol and Richard do have white hair. This translates as “old,” as one of Carol’s Chinese students explained to her: “Carol, if a woman were your age in East Asia, she would never leave her house.”

Going deeper

For Carol and Richard, this willingness to stretch out and trust God in new ways in their retirement years is best illustrated by a dream Richard had during their first trip to East Asia. Richard saw himself standing on the shore of a wide river. A man, with arms outstretched, was calling to him and asking him to come into deeper water. Richard was in ankle deep water, then knee deep, then waist deep. He realized if he ventured further, he would not be able to touch bottom. The outstretched arms continued to encourage him. Instead of returning to shore, he moved out and began to float.

Later, speaking with their pastor, Richard’s interpretation of this dream was confirmed. Ankle deep water was giving money to missions, which is something they had done throughout their married life. Knee deep was that first project: they did speak the language and they were travelling to Europe where the situation was not too different from what they knew. Waist deep was East Asia: they were definitely out of their comfort zone. Yet they made the decision to continue. They are not turning back.

For Carol, this is not a difficult choice. She thinks back to a note written on the back of a photo one of her students gave to her as she and Richard were boarding the bus for the airport

“Carol: Whenever and where ever I can’t forget you forever. You are very nice and kind as my mother. I love you very much, forever and forever. Eamonn.”

Carol feels the same way. Whenever and wherever she is, she thinks of her former students.

“I will never forget them. I will love them. I will pray for them. On that Great Day, I want them to be with me before the Throne, singing praises to the Mighty God who loves us all unconditionally. I cannot sing any songs about “the nations” without picturing these wonderfully dear people. What an awesome opportunity we have!”

Looking back now, it is hard for Carol and Richard to imagine that the disappointment of not going to Colombia in 1974 prepared them for what they are doing right now. They turn to Psalm 139 as a constant reminder that their path is overseen by a loving, competent God. His timing is indeed perfect.

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