🍇 Rooted to Grow: Becoming Fruitful in the Mission Field

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” — John 15:8

🌱 The Parable of the Unwatered Tree

There once was a young man who planted a beautiful olive tree in the middle of his garden. He placed it in good soil, surrounded it with stones to protect the roots, and even placed a small bench nearby to sit and admire its growth.

Weeks passed. He prayed over it daily. He told his neighbors how excited he was to see it flourish and bear fruit. But the tree didn’t grow. It stayed small. No branches stretched out. No olives came.

Confused and discouraged, he went to speak with a local gardener.

“I don’t get it,” the young man said. “I’ve done everything—believed in its growth, admired it, and prayed over it every day.”

The gardener looked closely at the tree and simply asked, “But… have you watered it?”

The young man froze. “No,” he whispered. “I assumed the rain would take care of that.”

The gardener smiled kindly. “My friend, even a tree with purpose, prayer, and potential needs water to grow. Some things require your action, not just your intention.”

🍇 Fruitfulness Requires More Than Desire

This simple story illustrates what many of us as missionaries experience. We deeply desire to be fruitful—we love people, serve faithfully, and pray consistently—but fruit doesn’t always come automatically.

Why?

Because fruitfulness isn’t just about being present on the mission field. It’s about tending to the soil, watering the roots, and sometimes making hard adjustments.

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:5)Only He gives life—but we must remain in Him and align our lives for that life to flow through us.

🙏 What Might Be Missing?

Are there areas in your ministry or heart where you've stopped watering the tree?

• Have you stayed too isolated?

• Are you avoiding uncomfortable conversations or changes?

• Have you stopped inviting others to speak truth into your work?

It’s easy to assume “if God wants it, it will happen.” But God calls us to cooperate with His Spirit—to cultivate, correct, and even prune for growth.

🍷 What Napa Taught Me About Growth

I recently met a missionary who served in rural Mexico. She told me something that stuck with me:

“Fruit doesn’t grow because you try harder. It grows because you stay rooted and you stay intentional.”

She compared her work to the vineyards she once visited in Baja California: the vines were carefully trimmed, trained, and examined every week—not to control them, but to maximize their fruit.

Likewise, our lives in ministry need care and intentionality. We can’t manufacture fruit, but we can cultivate the conditions for it.

💬 Let’s Be Honest

You may be reading this feeling tired, discouraged, or even ashamed because you don’t see the results you hoped for.

Let me say this clearly:

God is not disappointed in you.He is not measuring your value by numbers, baptisms, or posts on social media.He’s looking for hearts that stay connected to Him and that continue to grow in obedience.

📖 Scripture to Hold On To

You are part of that promise. One seed at a time. One conversation. One prayer. One act of faithfulness.

🙌 A Prayer to Grow

Would you pause and pray this?

“Father, thank You for choosing me. Thank You that fruitfulness doesn’t begin with pressure—but with connection to You. Show me where I need to grow. Help me prune what’s holding me back, and water what You’ve planted in me. Use me, God, to bear lasting fruit that brings You glory. Amen.”

Let’s grow together. Don’t settle. Don’t give up.

🌿 Your calling is still alive. So is your potential to bear fruit.

💬 Have you learned something about fruitfulness in your journey? Share with us in the comments or on our Facebook page.