Solving the Root Problem
When I was a Buddhist, I would frequently scoff at missionary work.
“Those Christians,” I’d grumble. “We’ve got world hunger, rampant poverty, and countless other issues plaguing mankind. Yet the only thing they can think of is to hand out Bibles to the masses. Pitiful.” I spat at the idea of sharing Jesus in such dark and difficult circumstances. People needed money, shelter, food, and protection, not some make-believe God watching all this suffering from afar.
There was one exception to my critical viewpoint of Christian missionary work: building houses. I could get behind my high school friends taking a week-long trip down to Mexico to build houses for those who couldn’t afford it. That made sense to me from a practical and rational standpoint.
Now that I’ve had some life experience, I’ve come to realize I fundamentally misunderstood two very important things in my younger years when it came to solving the problems of the world.
Misunderstanding #1: Symptoms vs. The Root Problem
First, I failed to understand the difference between solving for a symptom versus the root problem. Take homelessness as an example. I was familiar with the symptoms and how to cure those: food to cure hunger, temporary or subsidized housing to cure a lack of shelter, etc. But even my younger self knew these cures were only temporary solutions. If these solutions had lasting impact, we would have solved the problem
of homelessness in the United States a long time ago.
The root problem lies deep beneath the surface of those symptoms. When I think of the root problem of homelessness, I think of brokenness: brokenness found in people’s lives, our man-made systems, the relationships we have with one another, and ultimately, our relationship with God.
Misunderstanding #2: The Source and Motivation for “Doing Good”
Second, I failed to understand the source behind certain “good” and “generous” acts. Yes, my friends went to Mexico to build houses, but what was the motivation for them to do so? It was God. Otherwise, they would not have had any incentive to go. Dedicating their entire spring break vacation to building homes in Mexico isn’t what a teenager would typically do or even look forward to. The motivation clearly went beyond just “feeling good” about doing something “good.”
How Jesus Addresses The Root Problem
How do we restore “shalom” (the Hebrew word for completeness or wholeness) to something that feels beyond repair? How do we do it in a world where people constantly disagree on what is “good” and “right” on any given issue?
The answer is in the Gospel. The key is Jesus.
No, it’s not throwing Bibles at a problem. It’s also not “wishful thinking” (a.k.a. praying to some imaginary God). The Gospel boils down to having a personal relationship with Jesus and allowing that relationship to change you from the inside out. The “good” and “right” things we do then naturally flow from God as we learn to follow Jesus. We learn how to do this from Scripture and through the conviction of the Holy Spirit in us.
The Gospel is not formulaic or a one-size-fits-all model. So, how and why does it work?
Let me give an embarrassingly basic example à la One Direction’s song “What Makes You Beautiful.” Have you ever tried telling your beautiful friend how beautiful she is, only for her to swat away the truth you’ve been trying to tell her for years? Why can’t she see what you see? Why is it that she never seems to believe you no matter how many times and all the different ways you try to tell her?
Telling your friend she’s beautiful doesn’t resonate for her because you’re trying to solve the symptom (she doesn’t feel beautiful), not the root issue (she doesn’t feel worthy of being loved by someone else). But what if you shared with your friend that there is a God who created the universe and cares deeply for her? And that she doesn’t have to prove herself to Him because she is already His beloved child?
I was this friend once. The truths found in the Scriptures completely changed my life
, gave me purpose, and made me realize that I wasn’t the hideous, unlovable girl I had always believed myself to be.
The Gospel hasn’t just benefitted me; it has also benefitted others. Once I knew the truth, I became unstoppable for the Kingdom of God by unabashedly loving those around me and becoming radically generous with my time and finances. I didn’t do any of this overnight or even out of the goodness of my own heart. Instead, I did it because God called on me to obey His commands: to put Him first and to love my neighbor as myself.
How the Gospel Transformed My Life
The Gospel is that Jesus died for us, in order to redeem us from sin, and adopt us as His children.
John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This isn’t some trite statement in the Bible; it is the fundamental truth. It means that God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die for you. Why? Because you are that special to Him. In fact, the Bible states that you are God’s masterpiece whom He created for a unique purpose (Ephesians 2:10).
I no longer scoff at missionary work because I have personally seen and experienced the power of the Gospel in my own life. I felt the burdens of my past miraculously lift the moment I accepted Jesus into my life. I also came to understand that God didn’t see me the way I thought the world did. I wasn’t ugly and unlovable; I was His child.
The peace I had in that moment of surrender to God was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Even my usual self-destructive thoughts could not take away from my newfound peace. That peace continues to grow in my heart and in my soul to this day. It hasn’t faded one bit.
The Solution
Throwing the name “Jesus” around isn’t going to eradicate homelessness. However, it is undeniable that Jesus changes lives for the better.
If you haven’t tried it yet: entrust your worries, fears, and heavy burdens to Jesus. Start that conversation with Him today. He’s listening, I promise.
//
Jill Nguyen is a missionary in Romania, using her gifts to teach others about salvation in Jesus. She came to faith in December 2022 and was baptized on Easter of the following year. Jill’s story of coming to understand the root problem of humanity and how Jesus solves it has made her a passionate servant in a place rich with Christian history but in need of renewed faith.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
