What Happens When I Prioritise the Great Commission
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18b-20 (NIV)
This passage is known as the Great Commission. I never expected these few verses to become the anchor of how I live my life.
We are currently in Perth, Australia, taking a short break before returning to Tanzania.
In July 2024, my family and I moved to Tanzania to volunteer in a hospital. My wife, Wai Jia, is a doctor specialized in public health and communications. I work in the IT department. I was also supposed to help with pastoral support, but due to the time and energy needed to adjust to living in Tanzania, I haven’t been able to do much in that area yet.
These days, I often find myself wondering, “How did we end up in Tanzania? Why didn’t we just stay in Canada or Singapore?”
My answer is simple: I’ve chosen to prioritise my life around the Great Commission.
Why People Don’t Go
There are many reasons people don’t get involved in missions. Some are valid—like having to care for an ailing parent or a child who needs support. Most of us prefer to stay where things are comfortable, surrounded by friends and family.
For many of us (and you can judge me if I’m wrong), the main motivation for staying is the desire for stability and comfort, whether financially or relationally. We don’t like risk or change.
But what if those aren’t the right criteria for staying? For example, we often worry we won’t have enough money if we do missions, especially since it’s essentially volunteer work 90% of the time. But Jesus also reminded us that God is our daily provider (Luke 12:24–31).
We could list out many reasons why we don’t, or can’t, go on missions—family, friends, comfort, even hot water(!). But what if that list didn’t exist?
What would you do then?
Viewing the Great Commission as an Open Door
I see the Great Commission as an open door. It’s like a child walking into a candy store—full of wonder and possibilities. You get to go, explore, and see what God will do.
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” Yes, if you study the Greek, you’ll see the emphasis is on “make disciples,” but we still need to go somewhere to do that.
I love that Jesus’ final words were the Great Commission—and that He promised, “I am with you always.” That’s guaranteed. Wherever we go, He is with us. If He is with us, who can be against us? He is with us just as He was with the disciples in the Gospels. That’s the kind of intimacy we are invited to live with.
So why not go?
Our “Calling” to Tanzania
Some missionaries hear God clearly telling them to go to a specific people group or country. That wasn’t us.
We were exploring where to serve. We chose Africa because we had previously served in Uganda ten years ago, and I told Wai Jia that I didn’t want to turn away from Africa. We chose East Africa over West Africa because many East African nations were British colonies, so English is commonly spoken.
Honestly, our decision didn’t feel super spiritual. It seemed more logical than anything else. We prayed, we sought God’s guidance, and we made a choice.
When God Opens the Doors
We still don’t know where to go. One day, someone contacted Wai Jia and told her about a hospital in Tanzania. So she sent them an email. There was no reply. A few months later, I told Wai Jia we should go there and show up. Looking back, I was half joking.
Then, a few days later, another person told Wai Jia there was a Christian Medical Conference in Tanzania. Not only that, it was a few hours away from the hospital she contacted. We decided to go to the conference first and then visit the hospital afterwards.
What was unknown to us was that during the conference, Wai Jia met the hospital’s Medical Director. At the very same time, the Medical Director had Wai Jia’s CV on his laptop. This ‘random’ meet-up led us to see the Medical Director at the hospital. They took us in as volunteers.
While we were there, we visited a school (for the kids) and felt peace. This is a place where we can serve. When we returned home, we began transitioning out of Singapore.
Some may question whether we acted independently in our will and not as part of God’s will. But I believe God gives us freedom to choose. When we seek His Kingdom and make decisions with that goal in mind, we’re participating with Him. As long as our hearts are pure and we’re sincerely seeking Him, I believe our free will and God’s sovereign will work together.
It’s wild to think that a decision I made with my own will still be part of God’s will from the beginning—but yes, I believe that’s true. It sounds contradictory, but I think it’s one way to understand how human free will and God’s sovereignty coexist.
Actively Participating in the Great Commission
I believe the Great Commission isn’t something we wait around for in church, hoping for a sign. The sign is already there—Jesus said to go.
So why don’t we?
What if we make a mistake? That’s a valid concern. In Acts 16, Paul wanted to go to Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, but the Holy Spirit stopped him—not once, but twice. The Bible doesn’t say how, but Paul and his team knew it wasn’t where God wanted them to go at the time. Instead, Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him there.
Was that a reprimand from God? I don’t think so. After all, Paul did eventually preach in Asia Minor (like in Ephesus). The point is that Paul was actively engaged in the Great Commission. He wasn’t passive. He took initiative, and God guided him along the way.
The “Reasons Not to Go” List
Let’s be honest—we all have reasons we don’t want to go.
I have health issues related to my liver transplant. In fact, that’s why we had to return to Singapore earlier than planned before coming to Australia—I was having complications.
It’s actually a good idea to write out our “Reasons Not to Go.” There’s no need to hide them. God already knows our hearts better than we do. This isn’t about guilt. The Great Commission is for everyone, not just a few.
Once we have that list, what do we do with it? We bring it to God. Be honest. Tell Him your fears. Ask Him to help you surrender.
Everyone is unique, and I firmly believe God has a plan for each of us. Some are called to go. Others are called to stay. But the key is: Let God decide that, not us.
Priorities, Priorities
Raising children and caring for ageing parents are important—and valid—concerns. But are they the top priorities?
Some may say, “Tanzania (or wherever) is too dangerous for our kids, so we decided to stay.” It’s not always a black-and-white decision. It’s about what we prioritise most.
Is the safety of my children vital to us? Of course. Do I want them to have a great education and a joyful childhood? Absolutely. But following God comes first.
Before we moved, we talked with our kids about it. One of them asked, “Papa, why do we have to move to Tanzania?”
That’s a great question. I prayed and responded, “We’re going because we believe God is leading us there. A long time ago, when Papa was in Canada, I heard God telling me to go to Singapore—and I obeyed. Then I married your mum, and God gave us you two. If I hadn’t followed God back then, you wouldn’t be here.”
Prioritising the Great Commission doesn’t cancel out my responsibilities as a husband and father. I still care deeply about Wai Jia and our girls. I still manage our finances wisely. But none of those responsibilities outweigh the call to obey Jesus.
Obeying the Great Commission
When we planned to go to Tanzania, and doors opened for us to go, we knew God was leading and guiding us. Were there challenges? Haha—just check our Instagrams!
But we’re obeying what Jesus commanded us to do.
I’m not here to pressure anyone to go. But I’ve found that this is the way I’m called to live out my faith—through obedience. There are many commands Jesus gave, but the last one He gave before returning to heaven was: “Go.”
And so here we are—learning, growing, and prioritising the Great Commission. We’re not super-Christians. We’re just ordinary people following Jesus and doing our best to live out His teachings.