3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 161,330

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.

161330 Responses

  3. 카지노이벤트
    | Reply

    Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins
    to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank
    for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
    If you know of any please share. Many thanks!

    Here is my page … 카지노이벤트

  5. trash chute door closers
    | Reply

    I’ve read several just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.
    I surprise how so much effort you put to make this kind of excellent informative website.

  13. youtube 營利
    | Reply

    Hey exceellent blog! Does running a blog like this require a masesive amount work?
    I have absolutely no expertise in computer programming however I hhad been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyways, if you have any recommendations
    or techniques for new blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject nevertheless I simply had
    to ask. Cheers!
    youtube 營利

  14. Jayne
    | Reply

    Lost Car Key Replacement Near Me Tools To Make Your Daily Lifethe One Lost Car Key Replacement Near Me Trick That Every Person Should Be Able To lost car key replacement near me;
    Jayne,

  16. best realtor in Gorham ME
    | Reply

    I do not know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else encountering problems with your website.
    It appears like some of the written text within your content are running
    off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
    This may be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen before.
    Cheers

    Here is my web site best realtor in Gorham ME

  22. realtor in Albuquerque NM
    | 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.

    Here is my site; realtor in Albuquerque NM

  27. Antonetta
    | Reply

    There are many good resources online to give you greater understanding into this process. Clapham Building and construction Solution cover this facet adhering to the initial examination if you need additionally help with this. ” You can’t trespass on your neighbor’s land without their approval, other than in certain situations,” says Tim Jordan. If you are unclear, speak to your neighbours or check the Goverment’s Land Registry.
    Suppose My Neighbor Complains Concerning The Sound?
    Party Wall Surveyors’ tasks are rather comparable to Arbitrators, in the same manner, that the celebration wall property surveyors additionally generate an Honor which is an approach readily available to settle a conflict which occurred when the neighbours dissented to the Notices. Job involving celebration wall surfaces or celebration structures requires two months’ notification, whereas, for sure excavations or brand-new wall surfaces developed at the boundary, one month’s notice is required. You may require to discuss with your adjoining owner/s to get to an agreement over what adjustments could be made to make the proposal appropriate to all celebrations.

    Your neighbor could declare their residential or commercial property has been damaged by your job and without any information or evidence of the previous state of the property (which a celebration wall surface notification would have given you) there is not much you can do. These include small jobs such as drilling into the wall surface inside to fit kitchen area devices or shelving. Having the wall surface smudged or including or changing electric circuitry or outlets will certainly not require a contract either. If you or your neighbor desire to accumulate to and astride the border line, you can do with the express written authorization of the various other event.
    Level Survey
    We suggest that the event wall notification be served at the very least 3 months prior to jobs are planned at a minimum, as you can just start building 2 months and one day after you’ve either received permission or your party wall surface award. If the wall drops clearly on either side, then this is ruled out a limit line and is the single building of the property owner whose side it drops on. The structure proprietor defended the cases claiming the magistrates had no territory to make the orders the land surveyor looked for as he (the land surveyor) was neither the structure nor adjoining owner and his costs were not an issue of conflict in between those celebrations.
    Impact Of Covid-19 On The Structure Field And Housing Market
    You may need to designate a surveyor on your neighbors’ part if they don’t react or work with a land surveyor by an offered target date. Do you intend to execute building and construction work that could affect an event wall surface or another shared framework with your neighbors? If so, it’s important to familiarize on your own with the event wall survey method and exactly how it can serve to safeguard both your interests and those of your next-door neighbors. Your neighbours might seek payment if they can confirm they have suffered a loss as an outcome of the work, and it could also require removal of the job.
    Suggestions For Serving A Celebration Wall Surface Notice
    If you agree, that is completion of the issue, and you will not obtain an event wall surface honor or a schedule of problem. The surveyor will certainly collaborate with your neighbour’s property surveyor to agree a celebration wall award and will certainly take a schedule of condition. My very first article gave a brief history to event walls and the treatment of preparing and replying to notifications offered based on the Event Wall and so on. This second message gives an overview of the honor treatment and process from a surveyor’s perspective.
    This will certainly usually include speaking with neighbours to guarantee they comprehend what job is entailed and supply peace of mind around anything of worry to settle on a method of work. Any kind of work which entails or will affect the structural honesty of an existing limit wall surface should be offered in a created notice to you, the neighbor, a minimum of two months prior to any type of job is due to begin. If you have a concern with the proposed works, you can not require it to discontinue– however, you can seek the solutions and recommendations of a celebration wall surface surveyor who will address the homes and execute a survey on just how the advancement should continue. While event wall agreements may not be as crucial when it involves rental residential or commercial properties, celebration wall surface arrangements can play an essential role when it involves properties such as rowhouses and industrial buildings where totally different proprietors share a wall surface. Considering that a problem with a common wall can affect the owners on both sides of it, celebration wall agreements serve an essential purpose in motivating an organized technique to these issues.
    This report can be made use of to guide future upkeep or repair work on the party wall surface or to assist in settling conflicts in between nearby homeowner. There is no time limit in the PWA 1996 relating to the adjoining proprietor’s claim for payment. Nevertheless, one needs to consider whether the agreed property surveyor’s jurisdiction has actually finished, or whether he still has jurisdiction to manage the “late” case for payment. The negative feelings you have regarding the expansion are understandable specifically as you have not consented to this and your objection was disregarded. A quiet life is improved by great relations with your straight neighbors. The route to a sufficient resolution might be in examining the actual impact of elevating the wall surface on your home.

  29. 시알리스효과
    | Reply

    Hey there would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I
    must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you
    recommend a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable
    price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

  31. real estate agent in Baton Rouge LA
    | Reply

    Good day I am so grateful I found your webpage,
    I really found you by accident, while I was researching on Aol for
    something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like
    to say kudos for a incredible post and a all round enjoyable
    blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
    to read through it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.

    Also visit my web-site – real estate agent in Baton Rouge LA

  43. Rembrandt Roofing & Restoration
    | Reply

    After I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added-
    checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I receive 4
    emails with the same comment. There has to be a means you can remove me from that service?
    Cheers!

  45. Gaye
    | Reply

    10 Top Facebook Pages Of All Time About Land Rover Key
    Replacement Near Me land rover discovery lost key – Gaye,

Leave a Reply

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