3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 81,441

I am always amazed at the excitement and nervousness from those going on their first short-term mission trip, most of the time they don’t know enough to know what they need to be nervous about. There is an excitement in their eyes as they head into the unknown. They prepare testimonies and lessons, not knowing how God will use them or if they will be effective. They pack what is recommended and wonder if it will be enough. They comfort their parents and loved ones, and try to reassure them everything is going to be alright, while at the same time not knowing what the future holds. But through leading and prayer, the journey begins.

 

A lot of mission team members, especially those who have never been on mission before usually become broken spiritually sometime during the week of the trip. They discover a new outlook on sharing, faith, trust, and God. Why is this? It is simple, during the week they are constantly hearing the word of God either from others sharing or through the preaching or their own study. They also see the word of God come to life. That doesn’t mean that the bible gets up and starts walking around. But they see the Spirit of God begin to work in the lives of the people they come in contact with. They walk the streets with a single purpose, to find the person of peace with whom they can share the good news of the gospel. Some are hit with the hard truth that not all will accept the gospel, so they plant a seed not knowing the condition of the soil. Other times they begin to pour out water onto unknown soil, unaware that a seed exist and has been waiting for the moisture that God will use to bring it to life. They get excited and don’t know what to do when out of the ground springs forth life. A miracle, they get to see cold dead bones come to life. After that experience, they have a drive to share and no longer need to be pushed in front of people to share with. Oh what it would have been like in Acts to walk the streets and see God work, bringing people to life through the proclamation of the Gospel. But wait, could that still happen? And could it happen here?

After returning home and a couple weeks of rest, life returns to normal. The mission was accomplished, people were saved and now we are back comfortable, safe, fed, and loved. Or are we? There is always a sense of completion at the end of a mission trip. Not that that would be wrong in the short term, but there is a since of that was where we were on mission at, but now we are back and we have things to get done. Real stuff, school, work, friends, problems, and you know life. Right?

One of the greatest tragedies we have is short-term missions. I know you saw a bunch of people get saved, and God really “showed up”, but stay with me. There is a since of awe and wonder during the week of a mission trip. And we look forward to the next year when we can go and feel that same since of awe and wonder. But let’s compare it to a race shall we. Anyone who runs foot races understands that you have different splits. These are markers throughout the race to gauge your progress, and to ensure you are on pace. A short-term mission trip is sort of like a split. It is a time to see if you are where you need to be in your spiritual life, in your reading and study of the word, apologetics, doctrines, and if you can articulate them to the world around you. The shortness of the week gives you the opportunity to push yourself hard and to evaluate yourself. The tragedy is that the short-term is looked at, as the race itself. We return with a sense that we ran and will rest up to run again next year.

The race however is not over. In fact it is just beginning. When you return home, it is like passing the first mile marker. The street is no longer filled with cheering fans, the road narrows, and the reality of the race sets in. Here is where we must work our hardest. This is where we must pull from prayer and scripture, the strength to press on. Where most might sit and rest, we must run to win. We don’t just return to normal life, we return with a renewed sense of awe for what God has been doing and we must now trust even more so that He will continue His work. We saw on foreign soil God work in others lives. Now we must trust that He will work in ours for His glory and to reach those around us. We are home; this is where we must turn from our sins, where we must love God more than mother and father, more than friends and things. This is where we live out what we preach, if we believe that which we have taught. Did we believe it? Do we believe it? If so, then are we disciplined for the miles ahead? Paul tells the church at Corinth “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”. Are we disqualified or are we still in the race?

There are no short-term missionaries; there are only missionaries in different context. When we return to our Jerusalem, let us seek the hope that is only found in Christ. Let us not lean on our own understanding, our own wisdom, which is foolishness. Let us not fall victim to busyness and the lure of shiny objects that promise fulfillment. Let our knees be worn out for those nearest to us. Let our time be determined by the cross and His call, trusting that He will provide the time for work, family, fun, and ministry, as we continue the race. We have found our greatest joy in walking by faith; let us not check our faith with Homeland Security as we return home. But let us be reminded daily where our ultimate security is found and where our joy is greatest. Wherever you woke up at, wherever you find yourself, wherever you stand today, then that is your mission field. Time to get running.

81441 Responses

  1. the growth matrix
    | Reply

    I have been surfing online more than 4 hours
    today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net
    will be much more useful than ever before.

    My web-site: the growth matrix

  7. manup gummies
    | Reply

    Hi! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?

    My weblog looks weird when browsing from my iphone4.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to fix this issue.
    If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Thanks!

    my page :: manup gummies

  15. PAITO SDY
    | Reply

    Paito Warna SDY – Portal SDY Merupakan salah satu platform yang menyediakan informasi terperinci
    mengenai hasil pengundian angka dan paito warna Sydney yang diperoleh secara resmi dari situs Sydneypoolstoday.
    Paito Sydney ini akan diperbarui secara otomatis Pada pukul 13:
    50 WIB setiap harinya.

  27. AliceSwile
    | Reply

    Juanita Debettignies from New Bedford was searching for example of phd thesis
    Eleen Piedrahita located the reply to a search question example of phd thesis
    obesity research paper thesis
    resume writing services atlanta

    [url=https://essayssolution.com/]hire a writer for an essay[/url]
    [url=https://theessayswriters.com/]do my essay for me[/url]
    [url=https://dissertationwritingtops.com/]cheap essay writing service[/url]
    [url=https://domycollegehomeworkforme.com/]why cant i do my homework[/url]

    [url=https://inktva.com/product/inkt-digital-camo-hat/#comment-112447]what is love thesis statement[/url] 2f3d1d6

  28. demo slot
    | Reply

    When someone writes an paragraph he/she retains the image of a
    user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
    Therefore that’s why this paragraph is outstdanding.

    Thanks!

  30. Dorie
    | Reply

    What You Should Be Focusing On The Improvement Of Samsung American Fridge Freezer With Water And Ice Dispenser water filter fridge
    freezer, Dorie,

  32. オリパ
    | Reply

    Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I
    am inspired! Very helpful info particularly the last
    part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I used to be looking for this particular info for a very
    lengthy time. Thank you and best of luck.

  34. ShawnCer
    | Reply

    Проверка на соответствие AML или тот или иной инструментальный сервис подобрать.

    Отображает вам же полную последовательность ваших же криптовалютных активов. Показывает на каких торговых платформах существуют трудности при внесении финансов. К тому же сообщает в каких местах обмен является защищён. Один из самых надёжных сервисов для проверки. Цена приблизительно одного доллара. Предоставляет вам вам же платформы где на каких существуют трудности (заморозка) к тому же предоставляет обменники в которые можно вкладывать цифровые активы. Незаменимый сервис, что же поможет уберечь ваши средства и ваши временные ресурсы, что вы могли бы потратить на общение с техподдержкой, доказывая им, что вы не связаны с терроризмом.

  35. Ernestitask
    | Reply

    什麼是娛樂城體驗金?
    體驗金是娛樂城提供給玩家，特別是新會員的一種獎勵方式。這筆體驗金允許玩家在還未使用自己的資金進行遊戲前，先行體驗富遊娛樂城的各類遊戲。利用這筆體驗金，玩家可以熟悉遊戲規則，或嘗試新策略。

    領取娛樂城體驗金常見問答FAQ

    問：新註冊的玩家怎麼獲得娛樂城體驗金？

    答：只需要在富遊娛樂城完成註冊，加入富遊客服，告知【我要領取體驗金】並提供【帳號】【手機號】，就可以在賬戶中獲得高達$168元的體驗金。

    問：領取娛樂城體驗金有哪些限制？

    答：參加資格只有新會員，每位新會員只限領一次。

    問：我可以使用體驗金進行任何遊戲嗎？

    答：是的，你可以使用體驗金參與富遊娛樂城的所有線上賭場遊戲。

    問：娛樂城體驗金是可以提款的嗎？

    答：可以的，只需完成活動流水即可進行提款。( 詳細教學 : 富遊娛樂城如何出金/提款? )

    問：我在領取娛樂城優惠時遇到問題怎麼辦？

    答：如果你在遊戲中遇到任何問題或困難，可以隨時聯繫富遊娛樂城的客戶服務，我們將隨時為你提供協助。

  37. pro nerve 6 review
    | Reply

    Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
    Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.
    I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you
    have any tips or suggestions? Appreciate it

    Also visit my web blog pro nerve 6 review

  42. jasa service perbaikan ac gading serpong tangerang,
    | Reply

    What i do not understood is in truth how you are not actually a lot more
    neatly-favored than you might be now. You’re so intelligent.
    You already know thus significantly with regards to this matter, produced me for my part imagine it from so many numerous angles.
    Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested unless it is one thing to
    accomplish with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding.

    All the time care for it up!

  46. mpアグロ 人事
    | Reply

    New appliances are also incorporating the technology we’re used to seeing in dedicated computer systems —
    LG’s smart refrigerator uses an LCD screen to help
    you organize and inventory the refrigerated food, for example.
    There’s a difference between active solar
    power — what you probably picture when you think of solar energy — and
    passive solar power, which is based on smart home design rather than advanced technology.

  48. scam
    | Reply

    This piece of writing will assist the internet users
    for creating new blog or even a weblog from start to end.

  49. among us 777
    | Reply

    Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea
    shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed
    the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched
    her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic
    but I had to tell someone!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *