DALLAS – A conversation between Kelly King and Dr. Rebekah Naylor focused on what it means to follow Christ faithfully wherever he calls.
King teaches at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary as assistant professor of Christian ministry while also serving as the women’s minister at Quail Spring’s Baptist Church in Oklahoma. Naylor serves at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as distinguished professor of missions and as the missionary-in-residence. In addition to her teaching career, Naylor spent 50 years serving with the International Mission Board (IMB), 30 of those as a medical missionary in India.
The two spoke Wednesday, June 11, at the SEBTS annual Women’s Breakfast held during the SBC Annual Meeting.
“We can cross every geographic barrier, every cultural barrier, every economic barrier,” Naylor said, speaking to the value of medical professionals serving on the mission field. “Everybody gets sick. And the best part: within minutes, we get to a spiritual conversation. And there’s really no other profession that can do it with all people, across all those barriers, and get to that spiritual conversation.”
As they spoke, Naylor and King discussed God’s faithfulness to bring them to a saving faith in Christ; they explored what it looked like for Naylor to share that faith with those she ministered to on the field.
“In the clinic, there were often opportunities to share my faith story,” Naylor said. “My own story of believing in Jesus, mainly to say to them, ‘When you’re in trouble, what’s your go to? Well, you know, [for] me, it’s that my best friend is Jesus, and I tell them how that works for me. And that would maybe open the door for gospel witness.”
Naylor also played a pivotal role in establishing a nursing school that provides professional and medical training for, especially, young women from a poor economic background.
For some of the students, who feel called to serve Christ through their ministry, the medical training is also paired with training for missions, wherever God calls them.
Naylor explained to the women listening that “12 percent of your missionaries serving around the world are health care trained, and health care missions today with the IMB is very much important — supported — it is a commitment.”
King and Naylor also discussed ways that believers can be praying for the persecuted Church in India.
“We need to pray for strength and for boldness,” Naylor said, “for all of those who are there. There is great response to the Gospel in India today — more than I ever thought I would see.”
Candi Powers, women’s life coordinator at SEBTS, emceed the event.
“We wanted the women at the SBC to be better equipped to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission wherever God has placed them,” said Powers. She encouraged the women in attendance to check out the Southeastern booth and learn more about how theological education, at all levels, can equip them for the work that God calls them to.
To learn more about Southeastern’s heart for the Great Commission and for equipping women for that great work, visit sebts.edu/women-around-southeastern.
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