As an evangelist, one travels. Needless to say. As the years progress, Debbie and I find ourselves in an ever widening circle of Revival Meetings. Even back to Minnesota, northwest of Minneapolis, next Summer, the Lord willing. And yesterday, an email about preaching in Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay area. And we’ve just returned from Indiana, with Revivals upcoming in both the Carolinas.

As I pondered these evidences of God “enlarging our coast,” my mind drifted back two thousand years … to the Apostle Paul and his travels. How many miles, I wondered?

I found this data, from a reliable source. Best I can tell, anyway. This is appalling, in a day when all travel was rather precarious.

On Paul’s first missionary journey, he and Barnabas covered around 1,580 miles. Then on his second preaching mission, with Silas, they logged 3,050 miles! And his third journey … add another 3,300 miles! And this does not yet count his long voyage to Rome! Another 2,300 miles at least.

Wow!

Over 10,000 miles!

Walking a lot of that distance, and aboard ship much of the remaining time.

And, if my sources are correct, each tour became more expensive. Yet obviously God provided!

Remember the times God miraculously directed Paul’s steps? Told him where NOT to go, as well as which way to point his compass? Yes, in Acts 16:6-9 the story is related: “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

Exciting!

And Paul himself hints at some of his adventures, on the road or (for that mater) at sea. In his autobiography in 2 Corinthians 11:25 … “Thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.” Verse 26 reveals even more: “In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren.”

Wow!

Paul and his travels.

Think today of some Christian worker you know, one who travels for the sake of the Lord, and pray for him or her.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And if no one comes to mind … may I suggest praying for Evangelist Mike Bagwell and his Wife Debbie?

If you seriously willing to do so, text me (770-844-7627) and we’ll send you a prayer card, simply as a daily reminder to lift us up before the Lord.

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