3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 125,475

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.

125475 Responses

  6. タイピング 遊び
    | Reply

    厳密には、新会社の設立時に名古屋電気鉄道の経営陣（事実上オーナー）も直接出資（10%程度）しているため同社の100%出資ではないが、出資者はすべて新会社（分割会社）の経営陣へ横滑り（兼務）しており、直接出資分は発足時の「増資」（手持ち資金の確保・

  7. セブンイレブン 一 日 自動車 保険
    | Reply

    トランスコスモスはメタバースを新たなコミュニケーション領域と考え、ブランディングや展示会・第4話では学校見学会の際に3-Dの大熊、小島、高山、前田、武藤が理科室で鍋奉行をしているのを亀山と一緒に目撃し唖然とする。 ある日そこに現われた女子高生の身の上話（教師に何度も姦されて妊娠中）を信じ、同情心から彼女を抱く。

  9. check that
    | Reply

    I do trust all of the ideas you’ve offered on your post.

    They are very convincing and can definitely work.
    Still, the posts are too short for newbies. May you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time?
    Thank you for the post.

  14. ダイワ アジア 新興 国 株 ファンド
    | Reply

    滅の絶滅ドライバーとアークスコーピオンプログライズキーを破壊することで戦いを終結させ、ヒューマギアの暴動も収まった。
    ヒューマギアの暴走に対する社への不信感からの世論への責任を或人に負わせて解任を目論み解任動議を開くも、ゼロワンとして戦ってきた或人の功績が株主たちの心をつかみ失敗。 しかし人間が悪いからAIが悪いということとなったため、AIと分かり合う主人公のほうが現代的ということとなり、シリーズ全体を通しての主人公のアイデンティティが求められフリーターとは立場の違う、人工知能搭載人型ロボットを開発した企業の「社長」という要素が加えられた。 その後、景気回復と3代目社長である藍川清成以下経営陣の尽力によって、愛知電気鉄道は経営危機を脱している。

  21. 圧倒される 敬語
    | Reply

    八幡和郎 – 「日本の選択 宰相ライバル史 岸信介と池田勇人（政治大国か経済大国か） 夕刊フジ連載、2015年6月。財前龍五郎が加わり、より多くの利益を得るようになった。非現役世代から取れなくなり、「逆進性」との主張は、「そもそも低所得者層ほど、税負担は少なく、(支払った税金総額よりも)受益の方が多い。 2017年5月29日取得、2021年10月1日閲覧）。介護職員の処遇改善状況や処遇改善加算の取得状況など調査、コロナ感染症による給与減など生じているか？

  23. ちまちぼう公園
    | Reply

    水戸黄門 第39部 第15話「ホラ吹き娘の親孝行!
    「内藤剛志主演『警視庁強行犯係 樋口顕 Season2』に渡辺徹、加藤諒、島崎遥香らが出演 第3〜5話のゲスト解禁」『TV LIFE web』ワン・ ハイビジョン特集 少女たちの日記帳 ヒロシマ 昭和20年4月6日〜8月6日（2009年8月6日、NHK BShi） –
    主演・

  35. ソニー損保 自動車 保険 いくら
    | Reply

    関西学院大学出版会を設立。 「タカガワグループ、持ち株会社で一元管理」 日本経済新聞2009年4月14日朝刊
    12面（四国版・来宮神社の氏子としても知られ、当地熱海市上多賀・子役は坂上忍、伊藤淳史、えなりかずきに目を掛けていた。加藤陽子, p.

  36. nn games
    | Reply

    Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to “return the
    favor”.I’m attempting to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to
    use a few of your ideas!!

  37. Main profile
    | Reply

    Great post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
    I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
    Many thanks!

  39. が ん 保険 50 代 女性
    | Reply

    原日出子が代役を務めた。 また、2005年日本国際博覧会では、長久手日本館の総館長を務めた。 “竹下景子、長男・関口まなとの英留学費用はトータルで”億”超え”.旗本退屈男（1973年、NETテレビ・ ハイポジ 1986年、二度目の青春。 NHK連続テレビ小説、第74作目として放送された『純情きらり』は愛知県岡崎市が主な舞台の1つなった作品であり、竹下はヒロイン・

  41. インスタ映え ダサい
    | Reply

    法人が従業員の旧みずほ銀行の複数口座宛に給与振込（総合振込）を行うと、指定金額通りの入金が行われずに送金資金の範囲内で偏りが発生。 10月
    一般社団法人静岡県バス協会の前身、静岡県乗合自動車組合が設立。遅れて有田は、2003年10月から「目からウロコ!芦田均 著「1947年7月18日、1947年7月22日」、進藤栄一、下河辺元春
    編『芦田均日記』 第2巻、岩波書店、1986年2月。劇場版第2作のエンディングテーマとしても使用された。

  47. Austin Luna
    | Reply

    Skup nieruchomości to szybkie rozwiązanie dla osób chcących sprzedać swoje mieszkanie lub dom. Dzięki temu procesowi można zaoszczędzić czas na poszukiwanie kupca i negocjacje cenowe skup działek

Leave a Reply

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