By Jonathan Lyons
Intro by Kim Olachea: I remember Jonathan as a junior high
student and cross country runner in my at Northside Christian Academy in Charlotte, NC, back in the early 80’s. My husband was one of Jonathan’s teachers as well as his cross country coach. What stands out to me most about Jonathan was his faithfulness to running, which resulted in his success as a runner. More important, and also evident in his young life, was his faithfulness to the Lord. Many years later, the attribute of faithfulness, has remained in Jonathan’s life as he continues to serve His Lord and Savior as a missionary in Spain for the past 25 years and through many of life’s challenges.
Faith at Work in Life Changes Hebrews 11:27; Heb. 11:17-19; Heb.11:35
Do you ever wonder how you ended up where you are in life? Do the life changes that you go through ever perplex you? I am not trying to be morbid or discouraging at all! It just amazes me as I look back over my life and see how the Lord has worked in so many ways and has directed my paths in such a way that it can only be said that it was God alone! Growing up as a missionary kid in Africa and Spain I heard many sermons on Faith. It always seemed like something that others experienced; something that great preachers and missionaries lived and saw in their lives. People would come up to my dad and say, “Bro. Lyons, I wish I had your kind of Faith!” The good news is that we can have that kind of Faith! That is the joy and privilege of being a Christian. Hebrews 11 is known as the “Faith chapter” or the “List of the heroes of the faith”. My dad’s definition for Faith is: “Faith is the power to see the invisible, (Hebrews 11:27); to believe the incredible (Heb. 11:17-19) and to receive the impossible (Heb.11:35)” I have seen this work throughout my life and ministry. There is Faith, which is believing God’s promises; there is Faithful, which is acting upon God’s promises; and then there is faithfulness, which is resting in God’s promise! My wife and I have been missionaries for over 28 years, 24 of those years were in Spain. We were very comfortable in the ministry and had plans of moving to another part of Spain to begin another church plant. Our support was great, we had every need supplied, the church was growing, people were being saved, and life was good! Two of our children were born in Spain and this was home for all of our children. The thought of ever leaving Spain had never crossed our minds! However, the more we tried to go to another part of Spain the more the Lord began to impress upon us to return to the USA for ministry in Missions. Let me back up and say, that when Rachelle and I went to Spain at 22 years old, it was not an issue nor did it seem to take a lot of Faith. We were young, full of adventure, ready to do whatever the Lord wanted. We were going and doing what we were familiar with and used to, but a ministry in the USA was not a very comfortable place to be at all for us. All of a sudden we were out of our comfort zone! When we surrendered to the call to come and work at Baptist Missions to Forgotten Peoples in Jacksonville, FL, God had to strengthen and increase our faith. We found ourselves in very unfamiliar surroundings, doing a very different type of ministry that we had never experienced. We had inner struggles, family struggles mainly due to adjustments that we were all making. Our support droppeddrastically as well others things began to happen that were just out of our grasp and understanding. Life had suddenly made a huge change; all of a sudden we were not in control of our situation anymore! We were forced to once again, rely in faith on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! What a paradox! You may be quick to say, “Bro. Lyons, you are a missionary, surely that would never happen to you!” Well, it did! Missionaries and Pastors are human as well and we do go through trials in ministry. You would never believe it, but God put me in a position to where we would have to continually depend on Him by faith to supply our monthly needs. You see, it is possible for a person to get to the point in their lives where they begin to think that they have it made, everything is under control but there is a loss of joy of relying on faith in the Lord to sustain them in every aspect of life. This life change has brought us to a point to where we once again rely in faith on the Lord to supply our every need. What an exciting way to live! As I look over those very familiar verses in Hebrews, all of a sudden they have become real in our lives. Yes, we have seen the invisible hand of God work in a mighty way. We have learned to believe the incredible things that God has shown us as we have followed by faith and most of all, we have received impossible things from the Lord that we would have never received if we had not followed in faith. Yes, it is all God! God has given us a satisfaction that we did not even know we wanted just because we surrendered our will to His in these life changes! All we can say is “Wow, what a journey, what a joy just to serve the Lord” Life changes will come! We can either fight them or learn and grow by them! It may be that the Lord is growing your faith and wants to show himself in a very special way. Don’t miss the blessing of seeing your faith grow in the changes in life! When we see the faithfulness of God, and we just rest in Him, what a difference it makes.
Jonathan was raised in a missionary home in the countries of Liberia, West Africa and in Spain. His father, Dr. J.T. Lyons, was a missionary in Africa for 18 years and then went to the country of Spain in 1979 and serve there for 16 years. Jonathan was saved at the age of 11 while with his folks in Spain. The next year, at a Spanish teen camp, he was called to preach. Jonathan, then attended Tennessee Temple Univ. for two years and then he returned to the field of Spain along with his new wife as a Short Term missionaries. There Jonathan finished up his Bible Training in the Spanish Bible Baptist Seminary. Jonathan and Rachelle have now served 25 years as foreign missionaries in the country of Spain. Rachelle: Rachelle was born Manila, Philippines. She was raised in a Christian home along with her 5 brothers and sisters. Rachelle was led to the Lord at the age of 9 and then at the age of 12, moved to Orlando, Florida. She attended a Christian school in Orlando and her family became involved in the Tabernacle Baptist Church. Later, the Lord led Rachelle to attend Tennessee Temple University. It was during this time that the Lord began to work in her life concerning missions. After much prayer, Rachelle surrendered her life to be a missionary. Soon after this decision, she met Jonathan, who was preparing for mission work. She married Jonathan and has been serving faithfully by his side on the mission field. Jonathan and Rachelle now have four children, Priscilla; Benjamin; Stephen: and Jason. Ministry: Brother Jonathan and Rachelle have been involved in two different church planting ministries and in 2002 started the Azuqueca Baptist Church on the east side of Madrid. The church is now running between 60 to 80. Over the years, Jonathan has served as the president and Director of the Azuqueca campus of the Bible Baptist Seminary of Spain. Both Jonathan and Rachelle have been involved with discipleship and training nationals for the ministry. After 25 years on the mission field, the Lord has lead the Lyons to taken the position of European and Africa Administrator and more recently the position of Vice President for Baptist Missions to Forgotten People in Jacksonville, FL. Their focus is on Ezekiel 22:30 “Standing in the GAP” G – Generating Interest and Participation in World Missions A – Aiding and Encouraging Missionaries in Their Service for the Lord P – Pairing Missionaries and Churches Together to Fulfill the Great Commission We ask that you prayerfully consider supporting the Lyons as they continue their service for the Lord by reaching Europe and Africa with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If Jonathan & Rochelle can be of service to you in the area of Missions, they would love to do so. They are available for Missions Conferences, Missions Emphasis Sundays, College Prayer Bands and Chapel Services. They want to help you reach the Mission field where God has called you. If you have any questions or an interest in Missions, please contac them at jlyons@bmfp.org or call at 904 903 1794.