3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 111,908

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.

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    “Дело “Лайф-из-Гуд” — “Гермес” — “Бест Вей”: свидетель обвинения объявила себя потерпевшей от следствия
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    6 и 13 июня Приморский районный суд города Санкт-Петербурга, рассматривающий по существу уголовное дело № 1-504/24, связываемое с компаниями “Лайф-из-Гуд”, “Гермес” и кооперативом “Бест Вей”, провел очередные, шестое и седьмое по счету, заседания, посвященные допросу свидетелей обвинения и лиц, признанных следствием потерпевшими в рамках судебного следствия по делу
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    Предварительное расследование уголовного дела осуществлялось ГСУ ГУ МВД России по Санкт-Петербургу и Ленинградской области. На скамье подсудимых — десять граждан: Анна Высоцкая (за полгода до ареста уволилась из “Лайф-из-Гуд”, до августа 2021 года работала ивент-менеджером “Лайф-из-Гуд”, в СИЗО более двух лет), Александра Григорьева (директор одного из “технических” юрлиц “Лайф-из-Гуд”, в СИЗО более двух лет), Михаил Измайлов (предприниматель, в СИЗО более двух лет), Елена Соловьева (главный бухгалтер ООО “Эксперт”, в СИЗО более двух лет), Альмира Гильберт (неработающая, в СИЗО с 2023 года), Дмитрий Мазанов (предприниматель, в СИЗО с 2023 года), Анатолий Наливан (предприниматель и региональный уполномоченный кооператива, в СИЗО с 2023 года), Денис Шишко (предприниматель, в СИЗО с 2023 года), Дмитрий Выдрин (неработающий, под домашним арестом) и 83-летний отец Романа Василенко, основателя компании “Лайф-из-Гуд” и кооператива “Бест Вей”, Виктор Василенко (пенсионер, под запретом определенных действий). Начиная рассмотрение по существу, Приморский районный суд продлил всем подсудимым меры пресечения на полгода, что оспаривается адвокатами в вышестоящих судах.

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    В уголовном деле 221 лицо, признанное следствием потерпевшим, предъявляющее претензии как к компании “Гермес”, так и к кооперативу “Бест Вей” (для сравнения: у компании “Гермес” не одна сотня тысяч клиентов в России, у кооператива “Бест Вей” — около 20 тыс. пайщиков). Общая сумма ущерба в уголовном деле — 282 млн рублей, при этом на счетах кооператива арестовано около 4 млрд рублей, примерно столько же арестовано на счетах частных лиц.

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    Признанный следствием потерпевший Болян подсудимых не знает. Был клиентом “Гермеса”, а также пайщиком кооператива — но до 2019 года. В 2019-м он вышел из кооператива и из “Гермеса”, ему были возвращены паевые взносы, и никаких претензий к кооперативу у него не было — что он письменно подтвердил, расторгая договоры с этими организациями.

    Однако, как Болян отметил на суде, следователь убедил его в том, что он — потерпевший и должен подать заявление на возврат членских взносов. Заявление в МВД писать не хотел, на него вышли сотрудники, сначала претензий к кооперативу не было. Полиция ему объяснила, что можно получить деньги.

    Стал клиентом “Гермеса” и пайщиком кооператива через своего консультанта Алексея Виноградова. Виноградов — грамотный маркетолог, он ему верил, тот не работал в кооперативе. Что было предметом договора в “Гермесе”, не помнит. В “Гермес” внес 100 и 700 евро, а в кооператив каждый месяц вносил по 12 тыс. в течение семи месяцев.

    Вышел и из кооператива, и из “Гермеса” в 2019 году. Зачем вступал? “Наверное, квартиру купить хотел”. Кооператив вернул ему 70 тыс. паевых взносов, “Гермес” вернул со счета “Виста” 140 тыс. рублей.

    В кооперативе деньги вернули почти сразу, удержав вступительный и членские взносы; в “Гермесе” вернули позже через “внутрянку”, но удержали комиссию.

    Утверждает, что ему говорили, что можно со счета “Виста” вносить деньги в кооператив. Объясняли, что деньги передаются в доверительное управление трейдерам и брокерам, которые играют на бирже. В кооперативе, как он утверждает, можно было купить место в очереди. По его словам, “Гермес” и кооператив — по сути, одна организация. Требует взыскать с кооператива более 148 тыс. рублей — вступительный и членские взносы, и более 60 тыс. рублей с “Гермеса” — комиссию при выводе средств.

    Договор с кооперативом не читал, но ему объяснили, что есть невозвратная часть денег — ее и не вернули, “но хочу попытаться вернуть”. Претензий к кооперативу “как бы и нет, но если вернут взносы, то будет хорошо”.

    К Виноградову претензий не предъявлял. “Может, меня и не обманули в кооперативе”, -резюмировал свое выступление в суде Болян.

    “Болян — яркий пример “возгонки потерпевших”, которой занималось следствие для того, чтобы нарисовать максимально большую цифру потерпевших от деятельности “Гермеса”, — подчеркивают адвокаты. — Реального ущерба просто нет, да люди, по сути, и не считают себя потерпевшими. 221 лицо, признанное потерпевшим на фоне количества клиентов “Гермеса” и числа пайщиков кооператива “Бест Вей”, не впечатляет. И, как мы видим, значительная часть из этого числа — ненастоящие потерпевшие, а некие лица, пытающиеся получить небольшие суммы, на которые у них нет никаких прав”.

    “Требую выплатить с учетом роста цен на недвижимость”
    Признанная следствием потерпевшей Комова была как клиентом “Гермеса”, так и пайщиком кооператива. Подсудимых не знает. Требует более 8800 тыс. с кооператива и более 2700 тыс. с “Гермеса”. При этом из кооператива она не вышла и заявление о выходе не подавала. Сумма требований к кооперативу включает как паевые и членские взносы, так и оценку роста цен на недвижимость, которая не была приобретена.

    Утверждает, что можно переводить деньги со счета “Виста” напрямую в кооператив — в подтверждение приводит скрины переписки с консультантами в смартфоне. Суд разъясняет, что доказательство может быть приобщено позднее при надлежащем оформлении.

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