3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 78,031

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.

78031 Responses

  2. چتروم
    | Reply

    It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of information.
    I’m happy that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this.
    Thank you for sharing.

  4. Mindbody
    | Reply

    I relish, lead to I found just what I used to be taking a look for.
    You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great
    day. Bye

    my web-site – Mindbody

  6. vavada
    | Reply

    Чтобы пользоваться всеми привилегиями и услугами азартной площадки, игрок должен пройти быструю регистрацию и войти в свою учетную запись.

  10. australia eta visa cost
    | Reply

    hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve definitely picked up something new from right here.
    I did however expertise several technical points using this web site, as I experienced
    to reload the website many times previous to I could
    get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if
    your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your
    placement in google and can damage your high-quality
    score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
    Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my email and could look out for
    a lot more of your respective interesting content.
    Make sure you update this again soon.

  11. Used Designer Office Chairs
    | Reply

    Hi! Quick question that’s entirely off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile
    friendly? My weblog looks weird when viewing from my iphone4.
    I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be
    able to correct this problem. If you have any recommendations, please share.
    Cheers!

    Here is my web site :: Used Designer Office Chairs

  23. Fitspresso
    | Reply

    FitSpresso is a remarkable supplement that
    has caught my attention due to its unique blend of
    ingredients and its aim to support healthy weight loss in a effective way.
    What makes FitSpresso different is its unique mix of components that not only support fat burning but also improve metabolic rate and enhance overall well-being.
    I am impressed by that FitSpresso is designed to work gently
    yet effectively, making it a good choice for people who are looking for a healthy
    weight loss method.

    The fact that it boosts energy while reducing appetite is a major
    benefit because it helps to prevent extreme hunger pangs or uncontrollable hunger
    that many other weight loss solutions cause.
    Additionally, its natural formulation makes it a better choice compared to chemically-based supplements.
    I’ve seen many positive reviews from customers
    who have noticed significant boosts in their energy, mood, and physical appearance after using FitSpresso
    into their health regimen. It’s also worth noting that it fits well into a busy lifestyle since it isn’t dependent on a drastic change in diet or strenuous exercise routines.

    In conclusion, FitSpresso seems like a promising supplement
    for anyone serious about achieving their slimming down while taking care of their overall health with a safe, easy-to-use product.
    I think it offers a practical and effective solution for those who are aiming to drop weight without compromising on their health.

  26. 명품 레플리카
    | Reply

    Admiring the commitment you put into your website and detailed information you present.
    It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same
    outdated rehashed material. Great read! I’ve bookmarked
    your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

    Here is my homepage; 명품 레플리카

  30. gabapentin
    | Reply

    My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for.
    Would you offer guest writers to write content for yourself?
    I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects
    you write in relation to here. Again, awesome web log!

    Here is my web site :: gabapentin

  35. ozempic
    | Reply

    Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter
    group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
    Please let me know. Thanks

    Here is my web page: ozempic

  36. vietnam evisa qr code
    | Reply

    I simply couldn’t leave your website before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info
    a person provide in your visitors? Is gonna be back steadily to check out new posts

  39. Shek yuet hey
    | Reply

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what
    all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost
    a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100%
    positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Kudos

    Here is my web site – Shek yuet hey

  42. abowin88 login
    | Reply

    Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyways, just wanted to say
    excellent blog!

  43. diuwin
    | Reply

    Does your website have a contact page? I’m having a tough time
    locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email.
    I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
    Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.

  48. daftar toto12
    | Reply

    Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anyplace,
    when i read this piece of writing i thought i could also create comment due to this brilliant paragraph.

Leave a Reply

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