3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 78,999

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.

78999 Responses

  1. Charlotte Realtor
    | Reply

    Excellent post. Keep writing such kind of info on your blog.
    Im really impressed by it.
    Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I’ll certainly
    digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I’m
    confident they will be benefited from this web site.

    Check out my web page; Charlotte Realtor

  2. Josephine
    | Reply

    Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I
    have truly loved browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!

  5. building muscle
    | Reply

    This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog
    (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had to say,
    and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  7. 会社 意見を言わない
    | Reply

    “AKB48チーム4公演ついに開幕「16の太陽を浴びて温まって」”.
    “AKB48入山杏奈「銀幕スターになりきっての撮影」”.
    “AKB48入山杏奈、緊張は総選挙以上？井上成美伝記刊行会 編『井上成美』井上成美伝記刊行会、1982年。 “倉科カナ、宅間孝行監督「あいあい傘」に主演！第1話無料、第2話以降1週間無料。 2000年代から出番が減少していき、TV第998話B「しょくぱんまんとロールパンナ」から第1283話「メロンパンナとブラックロールパンナ」まで約6年間登場していなかった。以前はシンガポール川沿いには倉庫が立ち並び、アジア各地を往来する無数の貿易船が停泊する貿易港として繁栄するも、やがて放棄され時代の名残となっていった。

  9. Real Estate Agent in Charlotte
    | Reply

    An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who has
    been doing a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast simply because I
    found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this….
    Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to
    talk about this subject here on your internet site.

    My website … Real Estate Agent in Charlotte

  10. 後期 高齢 者 保険 料 計算
    | Reply

    また、健康保険組合に対して交付する国庫負担金は、各健康保険組合における被保険者数を基準として、厚生労働大臣が算定することとされ、この国庫負担金については、概算払をすることができる（第152条）。組合が滞納処分を行う場合は、あらかじめ厚生労働大臣の認可を受けなければならない。
    ただし、同一場所にあっても、その活動の場を明確に区分することができ、経理、人事、経営等業務上の指揮監督を異にする部門があって、活動組織上独立したものと認められる場合には、独立した事業として取り扱う。

  12. イオンでスカウト
    | Reply

    金融機関によっては、納税準備預金の取扱を行っていない場合もある。同興行では葛西純と対戦し、敗れはしたものの「デスマッチのカリスマ」と称される葛西に対して一歩も引かない流血ファイトを繰り広げ、関係者からの高い評価を得た。 「自分を出場させて欲しい」と自らTwitter上で売り込みを行っての参戦となった。 「自治体によっては単身で入居可能な公営住宅も存在するが、単身で入居が可能な対象者は、自治会の活動にきちんと参加できる65歳以上の高齢者、ハンセン病患者、DV被害者、軽度の身体障がい者に限定され、入居の際には連帯保証人を選任する必要があり、対象者であっても連帯保証人を選任できるひとがいなかったり、DV被害者や軽度の身体障がい者を除く若年者が割安な家賃である公営住宅の単身枠で応募・

  15. シャトー中の島事故
    | Reply

    主人公たちの中でシナリオは最も易しい。労働協約により事業主が報酬と出産手当金との差額を見舞金として支給する場合、その差額は「報酬」に含まれる。唯一、信長には絶対の忠義を誓っている。信長の真意を理解する唯一の人物。岩井克人は「重要な点は、消費増税によって財政規律に対する信頼を回復させ、長期金利を抑制することである。 “ホラーアニメ「闇芝居 十三期」”懐古”をテーマに7月放送、相沢梨紗らキャストも解禁”.

  17. Realtor in Fort Lauderdale
    | Reply

    This design is steller! You most certainly know how to keep
    a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent
    job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that,
    how you presented it. Too cool!

    Here is my blog post Realtor in Fort Lauderdale

  19. line 黒塗り 見る方法
    | Reply

    “従業員を採用したときの手続き”.相愛大：客員教授に就任 漫才コンビ「笑い飯」の哲夫さん”.天正壬午の乱では、昌幸は盟約相手を北条から家康に乗り換え、劣勢だった徳川方は盛り返すが、徳川・ モリのいる場所（2018年5月19日、沖田修一監督） – アシスタント・

  20. Real Estate Agent in Las Vegas
    | Reply

    Hello! Quick question that’s completely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My site looks weird when browsing from my iphone.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve this problem.
    If you have any recommendations, please share. Appreciate it!

    Feel free to surf to my website; Real Estate Agent in Las Vegas

  22. となると 文頭
    | Reply

    “とびつき団子”. うんちく 豆事典. 「メドベージェフ新大統領が就任」2008年5月7日
    時事通信閲覧。日本人5人ら13人死亡 ボリビア 2008年5月3日 産経新聞閲覧。新華社通信日本語版
    2008年5月12日閲覧。 2014年7月24日閲覧。 NHK WEB NEWS.
    2020年4月15日閲覧。 」2008年5月9日 毎日新聞閲覧。毎日新聞 2008年6月1日閲覧。毎日新聞 2008年5月30日閲覧。 ミャンマー：サイクロンが直撃 2008年5月4日 毎日新聞。

  24. hey
    | Reply

    I am extremely inspired along with your writing talents as smartly as with
    the structure in your weblog. Is that this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
    Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it is rare to peer
    a great weblog like this one nowadays..

  25. driving lessons
    | Reply

    I do not even know the way I stopped up right here, however I believed
    this post was good. I don’t know who you are however definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you happen to are not already.
    Cheers!

    My web site; driving lessons

  28. driving test
    | Reply

    An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you
    should write more about this subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but generally folks don’t speak about such topics.
    To the next! Many thanks!!

    Also visit my site … driving test

  32. 구글 상단 노출
    | Reply

    Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I’ve
    read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.

  34. bitcoin
    | Reply

    I have learn several good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.
    I surprise how much effort you place to create such a great informative
    website.

  41. Real Estate Agent in Fort Lauderdale
    | Reply

    Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if
    you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest
    twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something
    like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading
    your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

    My webpage – Real Estate Agent in Fort Lauderdale

  43. Fort Lauderdale Realtor
    | Reply

    Hi there! This post could not be written any better!
    Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this
    write-up to him. Fairly certain he will have a
    good read. Many thanks for sharing!

    Feel free to surf to my site; Fort Lauderdale Realtor

  47. Realtor in Charlotte
    | Reply

    I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well
    as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.

    Also visit my web blog :: Realtor in Charlotte

Leave a Reply

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