3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 83,063

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.

83063 Responses

  2. link bokep
    | Reply

    Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and
    i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam remarks?
    If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
    I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any support is very much appreciated.

  6. scam
    | Reply

    It’s nearly impossible to find educated people in this particular topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
    Thanks

  16. sumatra slim belly tonic reviews
    | Reply

    Greetings from California! I’m bored at work so I decided
    to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break.
    I enjoy the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
    I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone ..

    I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful blog!

  19. caluanie muelear oxidize中文
    | Reply

    hello!,I really like your writing very much! proportion we be in contact extra about your
    article on AOL? I require an expert on this space
    to unravel my problem. Maybe that’s you! Taking a look
    forward to look you.

  21. Bookmarks
    | Reply

    I was very happy to find this website. I wanted to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!!
    I definitely appreciated every bit of it and I have you book-marked to check out new stuff in your web site.

    Here is my homepage … Bookmarks

  23. website
    | Reply

    Good day I am so excited I found your webpage, I really found you by mistake,
    while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Nonetheless I
    am here now and would just like to say thanks for a fantastic post and
    a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to browse it all at the minute
    but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds,
    so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the awesome
    b.

    Feel free to surf to my page :: website

  25. bookmarks
    | Reply

    My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I should check things out.
    I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking at your web page for a second time.

    Feel free to visit my homepage: bookmarks

  26. slot demo pragmatic play
    | Reply

    Right here is the right blog for anyone who really wants
    to find out about this topic. You know so much its almost
    tough to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).

    You definitely put a new spin on a topic that has been discussed for
    a long time. Excellent stuff, just excellent!

  27. 비아센터
    | Reply

    This is the perfect webpage for everyone who really wants to
    understand this topic. You know a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic which has been written about for years.
    Great stuff, just great!

  28. Kickass
    | Reply

    I know this site presents quality based posts and additional stuff, is
    there any other web page which provides these
    kinds of data in quality?

  31. sange
    | Reply

    I every time emailed this blog post page to all my contacts, for the reason that
    if like to read it then my contacts will too.

  34. website
    | Reply

    Ahaa, its fastidious conversation concerning this piece of writing here at
    this webpage, I have read all that, so now me also commenting at this
    place.

    my web-site website

  38. website
    | Reply

    Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of
    spam feedback? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything
    you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so
    any help is very much appreciated.

    my website; website

  40. slot gacor
    | Reply

    We stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might as well check things out.
    I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward
    to exploring your web page again.

  46. porn xnxx
    | Reply

    If some one wants expert view concerning blogging and site-building afterward i recommend him/her to pay a quick visit this webpage,
    Keep up the nice work.

  47. Entrepreneur
    | Reply

    Great blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?

    A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog
    jump out. Please let me know where you got your design.
    Thank you

  49. granule pre psov
    | Reply

    V BBZoo nájdete všetko, čo potrebujete pre starostlivosť o svojich domácich miláčikov.
    Ponúkame široký výber kvalitných krmív, vrátane
    špeciálnych granúl pre psov, ktoré podporujú ich zdravie a vitalitu.
    Navštívte nás a zabezpečte svojim zvieratám to najlepšie

  50. kids care options
    | Reply

    I drop a leave a response whenever I especially enjoy a post on a site or I have something to valuable to contribute to the conversation. Usually it’s a result of the fire communicated in the post I browsed.

    And on this post Short term missions are not the race –
    The Hus Report. I was moved enough to create a leave
    a responsea response 🙂 I actually do have a couple of questions for you if it’s okay.
    Could it be only me or does it look like like some of these remarks come across like coming from brain dead
    visitors? 😛 And, if you are writing at other places, I
    would like to follow you. Could you make a list the complete urls
    of your social sites like your Facebook page, twitter
    feed, or linkedin profile?

    My webpage … kids care options

Leave a Reply

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