• The Last Letter Of Karen Watson

  Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 18, 2011 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  Mark 8:34-38

  Tags:  Missions

THE LAST LETTER OF KAREN WATSON

Our International Mission Board is working on a project called "The Last Letter." It’s actually an old tradition of soldiers and missionaries who as they boarded a ship, wrote their family and friends a letter that they think might be their final communication.

Karen Watson was one of our missionaries who wrote a letter like that. She was one of four IMB workers who were killed on March 15th of 2004. The vehicle they were riding in was ambushed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Karen was 38, and had been a Christian for about 8 years. She loved the Word of God and the work of God with a great passion.

Here is Karen Watson’s Last Letter:

Dear Pastor,

You should only be opening this letter in the event of my death. When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn’t called to a place; I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory my reward, His glory my reward...

The missionary heart:

Cares more than some think is wise

Risks more than some think is safe

Dreams more than some think is practical

Expects more than some think is possible

I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience...

There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. I love you and my church family.

In His care,

Salaam (Peace), Karen

(Sources: “My Last Letter” - Wed. Aug. 5, 2009 at 6:34 AM - http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2009/08/my-last-letter.html. Karen Watson: A woman ‘sold out for Jesus’ By ERIN CURRY - Baptist Press - Published March 25, 2004

From a sermon by Rick Crandall, Part 1, Love One Another, 6/10/2011)