On Monday night, Beatriz Buono (Executive Director of Certeza Publishing in Argentina " the largest Christian publishing company in Latin American) took to the main stage at CMS Summer School to talk to us about church ministry. She spoke in-depth about the issues facing the church in Argentina " intense social, economic and political issues that plague her corner of the world.

As she talked haltingly in a language not her own, I was consumed with passion for the youth of South America, and particularly Buenos Aires. They're growing up in a city battling with a choking poverty cycle and a remorseless drug culture. The number of children and teenagers growing up in poverty were staggering.

I've been leading youth at my home church for over four years now. I've led Bible studies, run games, given talks and organised camps. I've even helped take a team of youth on a short-term mission trip to rural Australia. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead these teenagers. But to sit in the main auditorium and hear of the desperate need for people to come and reach out the youth of Latin America " it tugged at my heart. I wanted to board a plane and head over there immediately, to give what little help I could offer.

And then a few CMS missionaries explained a bit more about the church-based ministries they're a part of in places as diverse as the Northern Territory, Singapore, Japan and Slovenia. And with their sober descriptions of the great needs of God's church in these scattered locations, my heart was pulled in more and more different directions. How on earth could I get to each of these places to help? And what about all the places in which we don't yet have missionaries?

But later as I prayed and reflected, I realised that the will of God will carry me where he wants me. And though it’s going to be somewhere, it probably won’t be everywhere. And that is okay. Because the God whom we trust, love, worship and serve is the one in charge. And he has the power and the grace and the wisdom to be left in charge. In Jesus Christ, all things are possible " and the church of Jesus Christ will together be called and sent and gifted to send. Each person will play their part in bringing more and more people into his kingdom. That’s the only way in can happen. Each member of the body of believers seeking their own place in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, to the glory of God.