Pope Francis Asks Us Leave Our Comfort Zone

Dec 10, 2015 | Interview, Leo Okonkwo, Stories

One of the main themes of Pope Francis’ Papacy thus far has been his insistence that professing Christians be “missionary disciples.”  We must leave our comfort zones and go to the “existential peripheries”, where we experience life in its most dire circumstances of hunger, poverty, severe illness, and war.    

The Holy Father recently visited the African nations of Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic, where he spoke with the people about the problems within their contexts.  Francis is showing the Universal Church the importance of Africa and the meaning of missionary discipleship in light of Jesus’ call to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel…” (Mk 16:15).  

Last week’s newsletter featured three video testimonials, recorded at our August prayer breakfast, in support of HEAL’s mission and programs.  Of course, there would be no HEAL without our founder, Deacon Leo, a missionary disciple who has spent his life on the existential peripheries.  We recorded Leo’s own testimony of how God gave him this mission.

HEAL began only a few months after Pope Francis was elected in 2013.   It has brought me to Nigeria and back, to networking events all over the country, and to Church venues where I’ve spoken to groups about this mission.  It’s almost as if the Lord wanted me to understand the importance of missionary discipleship from the top down and the bottom up!

So, as you listen to Deacon Leo’s story, and see how the Holy Father trots the globe with the Gospel, ask yourself how you are being called today.