This might be a badge of honor, or shame, depending on your viewpoint. Now, 228,000 Delta miles later, I say that my favorite journey remains the one that brings me back home. In these days of air travel, I can be home from many places around the world in a matter of hours. But not too long ago a ministry journey to other nations could take months. On top of that, the perils of travel on the high seas, of disease or bandits, meant that if you survived that journey you didn’t want to do it again too quickly—and many never made that return journey at all.

For the first few centuries of Christ’s kingdom coming on earth, disciples had the same, or greater, limitations on travel. This only makes the impact they made under such constraints even more impressive as they were able to share the good news widely. Jesus told His disciples they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) and, in obedience to Him, they were. Paul made four ministry journeys that we know of. Three are mentioned in the book of Acts and the fourth we can piece together from His letters. He was released from house arrest in Rome only to be later arrested, imprisoned and martyred.

Teachers and theologians have calculated that Jesus himself traveled more than 3,000 miles on foot, over three years of ministry. An incredible commitment to His task and a great physical effort in order to share the good news of His coming kingdom.

The one thing all these great journeys have in common is that the travelers had a base they left from and returned to—a place they called home. Mine is Minneapolis, Paul’s was Antioch and Jesus’ was Capernaum.

Just over a third of our NHC global partners minister from a home base in the U.S., traveling all over the world by taking advantage of their access to rapid international travel. They may not live in the nations they serve, but they are deeply engaged and significant in the work of building the kingdom among the nations.

Partners become non-resident workers by choice or by necessity. Some have served in foreign countries but became unable to stay. Some can only stay in a country short-term as tourists. Some have aging parents who need care. Some minister in multiple countries, in pastoral training, leadership or theological teaching, translation, or ministry consulting and others return for their children’s education. But in every case, partners have a burden to continue in their ministry. They don’t want to waste their language, cross-cultural skills, or the specialized knowledge gained in their specific fields of calling or expertise.

There is no place like home, but, for some, home can be found in many countries and in the hearts of many peoples.

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Chris Jones is the Global Outreach Director at New Hope Church. He longs for the unreached people of the world to experience the life-changing love of God and for people at New Hope Church to find fullness of joy by obeying the Great Commission.