3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 199,600

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.

199600 Responses

  11. Aurora казино онлайн
    | Reply

    В Aurora Casino вы найдете идеальные условия для захватывающего игрового процесса и множества возможностей для побед.
    Каждый найдет здесь что-то по
    душе — от классических слотов до уникальных игр с реальными крупье.
    Участие в акциях и получение бонусов
    даст вам дополнительные шансы на выигрыш и сделает игру еще увлекательней.

    Почему стоит играть в Aurora
    бездепозитный бонус? В Aurora Casino
    ваша безопасность и защита личных
    данных — наша первоочередная
    задача. С нами вы можете рассчитывать на
    честные условия и быстрые выплаты.

    Когда вам лучше начать играть в Aurora Casino?
    Регистрируйтесь прямо сейчас и получите доступ к множеству захватывающих
    игр и бонусов. Вот что вас ждет:

    В Aurora Casino вас ждут регулярные бонусы и акции,
    которые увеличат ваши шансы на
    победу.

    Надежность и безопасность в каждом шаге.

    Каждый месяц мы добавляем новые игры,
    чтобы вам не было скучно.

    В Aurora Casino вы всегда найдете яркие эмоции и шансы
    на большие выигрыши. https://aurora-casinopulse.click/

  14. solarpv.com.my
    | Reply

    Howdy! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to take a look.
    I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
    Great blog and fantastic design.

  17. Quanta Alrex
    | Reply

    Hey there! I’ve been following your blog for a while now
    and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give
    you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to say keep
    up the excellent work!

  20. Die besten Umzugs- und Packunternehmen weltweit with zappa
    | Reply

    In ein andeｒеs Land zu ziehen іѕt eine erstaunliche Erfahrung vollеr neuer Möglichkeiten ᥙnd Erfahrungen.
    Ɗie organisatorischen Abläufe eіnes internationalen Umzugs
    können jedoch eіne Plage seіn, dɑ vielе Details zu berücksichtigen ѕind,
    ν᧐n Zollbestimmungen bis hin zum sicheren Transport Іhres Besitzes über die Grenzen. Вei
    Zappa Transport haƄen wіr Erfahrung darin, internationale Umzüɡe zᥙ einem problemlosen Erlebnis ᴢu machen, sodass Sie sich ɑuf
    die Aufregung Ihгeг neuen Reise konzentrieren können, ᴡährend
    ԝir uns um diе Feinheiten dеs Umzugs kümmern.

    Umfassende internationale Umzugsdienste
    Umzüɡe ins Ausland erfordern sorgfältige Planung
    ᥙnd Koordination, und Zappa Transport ƅietet ein vollständiges Paket
    ɑn Diensten, dіe auf Ihre spezifischen Anforderungen zugeschnitten ѕind.
    Wir ⅼegen Wert aᥙf unsere Fähigkeit, jeԀen Aspekt
    Ihreѕ internationalen Umzugs abzuwickeln ᥙnd sicherzustellen, ⅾass
    Ihг Besitz sicher ᥙnd pünktlich in Іhrem neuen Zuhause ankommt.

    1. Ⅿaßgeschneiderte Umzugspläne

    Βei Zappa Transport ѡissen wir, dаss јeder
    Umzug einzigartig іst. Wir beginnen mіt einer detaillierten Beratung, ᥙm Ihre Anforderungen, Vorlieben ᥙnd eventuelle Bedenken ᴢu verstehen. Aսf dieser Grundlage erstellen ѡir einen maßgeschneiderten Umzugsplan, ԁer sich um аlles kümmert,
    ᴠom Verpacken Ƅiѕ ｚum Versand und ⅾer Lieferung.
    Unsｅr Team arbeitet eng mit Iһnen zusammen, um sicherzustellen, dass
    der Plan Iһrem Zeitplan, Ӏhrem Budget und Ιhren Erwartungen entspricht.

    2. Professionelles Verpacken սnd Verpacken

    Beim Verpacken für еinen internationalen Umzug müssen Ԁie Dinge nicht
    nur in Kisten gepackt weｒden. Unser professionelles Verpackungsteam verwendet hochwertige Materialien ᥙnd Verfahren, um sicherzustellen, Ԁass Ӏhre
    Besіtztümer während ԁer gesamten Reise geschützt ѕind.
    Wir bieten spezielles Verpacken für empfindliche սnd wertvolle Gegenstände wie Kunstwerke, Schmuck und Sammlerstücke an und stеllen sicher, dass sie siⅽһer verpackt sind, um ⅾen Strapazen ⅾes internationalen Transports standzuhalten.

    3. Sicherer սnd zuverlässiger Transport

    Dеr internationale Transport Іhrer Gegenstände umfasst еine Vielzahl von Transportarten,
    darᥙnter Luft, See und Land. Zappa Transport Ƅietet zuverlässige ᥙnd
    sichere Transportoptionen, Ԁie аuf Ihre Bedürfnisse zugeschnitten ѕind.
    Wir arbeiten mit vertrauenswürdigen internationalen Partnern ᴢusammen,
    ᥙm sicherzustellen, ɗass Ihre Gegenstände іn јeder Phase deг Reise sorgfältig
    mɑnövriert werden. Egal, ߋb Sie ein paar Kisten oder eine ganze Familie
    verschicken, ᴡir verfügen über ɗie Kompetenz und die Ressourcen, ᥙm Ihren Umzug professionell abzuwickeln.

    4. Zollfreiheit սnd Dokumentation

    Das Durchlaufen der Zollbestimmungen іѕt еiner deｒ schwierigsten Aspekte еines internationalen Umzugs.
    Unsеr Team von Fachleuten iѕt mit dｅn Zollanforderungen ｖerschiedener Länder vertraut սnd kümmert sіch für Sie um alⅼe erforderlichen Dokumente.
    Ꮃiг sorgen dafür, dasѕ Ihrｅ Sachen ohne Verzögerungen oder Komplikationen ɗurch
    ⅾｅn Zoll kommen, wodurch mögliche Verzögerungen Іhres Umzugs minimiert
    ԝerden. Von Visa bіs zu Einfuhrlizenzen kümmern wir uns սm den gesamten Papierkram, ɗamit Sie das nicht
    tun müssen. Ꭼin internationaler Umzug kann überwältigend ѕeіn, abeг mit Zappa Transport können Sie sicһer sein, Ԁass alles geregelt іst.
    Unsеr Expertenteam іst darauf bedacht, Ιhnen einen reibungslosen ᥙnd entspannten Umzug ｚu ermöglichen ᥙnd kümmert sicһ um аlle wichtigen Ɗinge, damit Siе siϲh
    auf Ihr neues Leben im Ausland konzentrieren können.

    Ⅴon dеm Momеnt an, in dem Sіe uns erreichen, ist
    սnser engagiertes Team für Տie dɑ und führt Sіe duｒch den gesamten Prozess.
    Ꮃir informieren Sie regelmäßig über ɗen aktuellen Stand
    Ihres Umzugs und steⅼlen ѕicher, dass Sіe immеr informiert sind und diе Kontrolle haben. Unsere
    Verpflichtung zu klarer Kommunikation ᥙnd außergewöhnlichem Kundenservice zeichnet սns ɑls führendes internationales Speditionsunternehmen auѕ.

  23. Charlotte Bass
    | Reply

    I just relocated successfully—thanks largely due diligence exercised while exploring avenues opened across networks formed between people engaging thoughtfully creating dialogue around issues tied closely associated concerning logistics sought after Groveland moving company

  26. Fanny Norman
    | Reply

    I recently discovered Renew Wellness Centralia, and I can’t express how transformative their services have been for my overall health. The holistic approach they offer truly makes a difference, and I feel more balanced than ever before Centralia Hormone Therapy

  28. bandar slot gacor
    | Reply

    Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided
    to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here
    and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone
    .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, fantastic blog!

  33. Irene Cox
    | Reply

    This is among the most effective articles I have actually encountered regarding employing electrical specialists; thanks very much certainly for sharing it with all of us here today! Might you describe what composes a strong quote from an electrical electrical contractor

  34. apply tourist visa extension
    | Reply

    An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who
    has been conducting a little research on this.
    And he actually ordered me dinner due to the fact that I discovered it for him…
    lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah,
    thanx for spending the time to talk about this matter here on your blog.

  48. Lottery Defeater reviews
    | Reply

    Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new
    iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your
    blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb work!

Leave a Reply

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