The Mission Remains the Same

By Sharon Mager

PASADENA, Md. — After spending two decades serving on the mission field in South Asia, Chris Mauger, pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach (GBC), and his wife, Debbie, are discovering that many of the same lessons that shaped their overseas ministry are now helping the church reconnect with their community.

Chris and Debbie Mauger spent almost two decades serving as IMB missionaries. Now, they’re prayerfully using the skills they learned on the field in pastoral ministry. (Photo submitted)

Chris, who became pastor of Grace Baptist Church last year, served with Debbie and their children through the International Mission Board (IMB) in India and Bangladesh.

GBC is located in a residential neighborhood with an elementary school within walking distance and near local businesses. For the Mauger family, the field may look different now, but the mission remains the same — making disciples of all nations.

The Journey to International Missions

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Chris was raised in a Christian home and had accepted Jesus but admits that, although he still attended church, he began spiritually drifting during his teenage years. In college, he earned a business degree and eventually worked his way up in retail management.

He met Debbie at church and was quickly smitten. “I would try to be sneaky and look behind me because she sat toward the back,” he laughed. “I would try to see if ‘that girl’ was still there.”

After he and Debbie married, they moved to New York for work, and Chris felt the Holy Spirit convicting him, drawing him into a deeper spiritual walk.

“I realized that I needed to make a change. I tried to live my life by myself — to do it on my own. Sometimes I’d get better, and sometimes I’d give up. Then I remember very clearly, on my sofa one winter night in January, saying, ‘Lord, You do it — You live for me.’ And that made a big difference.”

After moving back to Pennsylvania and becoming active in a Southern Baptist church, Chris sensed God calling him into full-time ministry.

He had been reading 1 Corinthians 3, which says your work will be tried by fire. That passage challenged him.

Chris said God impressed on him, “What are you doing that’s for the kingdom of God?” He knew God was calling him to full-time ministry.

He and Debbie weren’t sure where that calling would lead, but they continued trusting God. Then an opportunity arose to travel to Romania on a short-term mission trip. While there, Chris knew he was being called to international missions.

“God, Change My Heart”

Debbie initially struggled with the idea, and Chris understood why.

“We had three young kids. Life was good,” Chris said. “But to her credit, she said, ‘I’ll pray about it.’”

Debbie spent weeks reading her Bible and walking the neighborhood, praying.

Chris said, “The first week, it was ‘God, change Chris’ mind.’ Then she prayed, ‘God, change Your mind.’ Then she prayed, ‘God, please change my heart, because I still don’t want to go.’ By the end of the month, she told me, ‘It’s an act of obedience. God has called us.’”

They moved to North Carolina so Chris could attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. During their time there, the couple prayed for guidance and were led to South Asia.

Their children grew up overseas, and the family adapted. Much of the couple’s overseas ministry focused on identifying trusted leaders, building teams and training indigenous believers to share the gospel and disciple others.

They grew to love the people and the culture. Though ministry came with difficult seasons, challenges and burnout, Chris said God continually sustained their family.

Eventually, they sensed it was time to return to the United States.

A Different Mission Field

Seeking his next “assignment,” God opened the door for Chris to pastor GBC, and he has used some of the on-the-field missions strategies to help the church become more outward-focused and see the surrounding neighborhood as their mission field.

Prayer continues to be a focus. Chris had an interactive prayer gathering with stations around the room where members could pray in different ways. A mission wall with maps helped participants pray strategically for countries and neighborhoods. Other stations focused on lost loved ones, outreach opportunities and community needs.

The church has also had multiple outreach events — family movie nights, praise and worship nights, ice cream fellowships, community festivals, a Passover Seder and a Christmas toy drive. They recently launched a support group for those caring for aging parents or family members and are planning a community fair in June.

Chris also emphasizes a deep understanding of Scripture and teaching the whole counsel of God.

“We used the Old Testament a lot overseas because people knew the prophets and stories. Then we would show how Jesus fulfills the Scriptures.”

Another takeaway from the Maugers’ mission experience is a deeper awareness of spiritual hunger and spiritual warfare. Chris said those realities exist overseas and in America.

“The strongholds are different, but they’re still strongholds,” Chris said.

As Chris leads the church, he says he’s still readjusting after spending 20 years overseas. He laughed and said, “I’m learning American culture once again.”

Still, he believes God prepared his family for this season just as intentionally as He prepared them for the mission field years ago.

“The mission field changed, but the mission didn’t.”

Email BCM/D Director of Evangelism Mark Dooley for evangelism information and resources 

Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D Content & Stories Editor