The Banyan Tree
On our mission trip to India, I encountered something I had never seen before—a banyan tree. They were everywhere. Sidewalks curved around them, streets bent to accommodate them, and restaurant courtyards used them as natural centerpieces. With so many scattered across the landscape, I didn’t pay them much attention. They were simply another oddity in a part of the world that was new to me. I didn’t even bother to take a photo.
But after I returned home, I couldn’t get them off my mind.
Curiosity finally led me to do some research. The banyan is easily recognized by its aerial roots that extend from branches down into the soil. Once those roots reach the ground, they embed, sprout a new trunk, and send out more roots. This cycle repeats endlessly, allowing the banyan tree to spread outward indefinitely. Yet despite its many trunks, it remains one living organism—connected at its core, continually reaching further.
What a powerful picture of Christian missions.
In John 17:18–21 (NIV), Jesus prayed:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
Missionaries are like those aerial roots—extending outward into unfamiliar soil, trusting God to take root in new places. They relocate their families, stretch beyond their comfort zones, and patiently wait for the Spirit to bear fruit. Every time the gospel takes root in a new heart, the family of God spreads farther, yet remains one body in Christ.
For those of us at home, our role is no less vital. Prayer, encouragement, and support keep those branches strong. Paul reminds us in Romans 10:14–15 that the good news is only heard when someone is sent. Missions is never a solo effort—it is the whole body of Christ working together, connected like the banyan tree.
Since returning, I’ve often been asked, “What did you really do in India?” The answer is simple: Jesus called, and we said, “Yes, Lord.”
And through that obedience, God is still spreading His roots into new soil, drawing more people into the eternal body of Christ.
