3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 171,425

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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    Lana Del Rey had a tough time naming her favorite song
    from pal Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured
    Poet’s Department.

    The Ultraviolence hitmaker, 38, was asked about Swift’s, 34, record
    during a red carpet interview, as she made her return to the Met Gala in New York City, after a six-year hiatus. 

    When questioned if she had a ‘favorite jam’ from the album, Lana took a moment to think before responding, ‘It’s the one
    uhh, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me,”‘ she replied, adding, ‘Whatever that
    title was.’

    The songbird — born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant — actually got
    the title right, though she didn’t seem to realize
    it. 

    While at the event she also posed with Swift’s
    nemesis Kim Kardashian, 43 — who sparked shock reactions with her
    thin waist —  after Taylor made a pointed diss at the reality
    star on the album, reigniting their long-standing feud. 

    Lana Del Rey, 38, had a tough time naming her favorite song from pal Taylor Swift’s,
    34, new album The Tortured Poet’s Department while attending the
    Met Gala on Monday

    While at the event she also posed with Swift’s nemesis Kim
    Kardashian, 43, after Taylor made a pointed diss at the reality star on the album, reigniting their long-standing feud

    Lana Del Rey reveals what her favorite song is from Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ album.
    #TTPD #MetGala pic.twitter.com/IT3EU9wEiJ

    — Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 6, 2024

    Lana branched out in a bizarre twiggy forest nymph dress and headpiece draped in a tulle veil at
    the event.

    The singer left some heads scratching in the unconventional
    look, which consisted of a corseted custom beige
    gown designed by Alexander McQueen’s Seán McGirr.

    The star took the ‘Garden of Time’ theme to heart, with her gown featuring brown branches
    throughout. 

    She accessorized the outfit by holding a single red rose
    in her hand. She also paired the look with chunky white
    clogs.

    Lana — who recently teamed up with Kim for a Valentine’s Day SKIMS campaign — was joined by designer
    McGirr, who looked dapper in an all-black look.

    He matched Lana’s rose with a dark rose-shaped brooch on his lapel. 

    Her unique headpiece forced Kim to duck out of the way
    a few times as Lana stood next to her during another red carpet interview. 

    Meanwhile Kim – who is known for her curvaceous figure and bodacious behind – showcased a wild body transformation in custom Maison Margiela, sparking
    shock reactions with her thin waist.  

    Lana and Taylor have known each other for around 10 years. 

    They’ve previously collaborated on the song ‘Snow
    on the Beach’ on Swift’s Midnights album, which was released in 2022. 

    The Ultraviolence hitmaker was asked about Swift’s record during a red carpet interview, as she made her return to
    the Met Gala in New York City, after a six-year hiatus

    When questioned if she had a ‘favorite jam’ from the album, Lana took a moment to think before responding, ‘It’s the one uhh, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me,”‘ she replied, adding, ‘Whatever that title
    was’

    The songbird — born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant — actually got the title right,
    though she didn’t seem to realize it

    During another interview Kim was forced to duck out of the way a few times as Lana stood next
    to her wearing a branched headpiece wrapped in a tulle veil

    Kim had to be strategic so as not to get poked by the singer’s twiggy outfit 

    She was pictured chatting with Kim, after Swift took jabs at her
    with a song titled Thank You Aimee — stylized as ‘thanK
    you aIMee,’ spelling out Kim in capital letters

    Lana and Taylor have known each other for around 10 years.
    They’ve previously collaborated on the song ‘Snow on the Beach’ on Swift’s
    Midnights album, released in 2022; seen in February 

    Meanwhile Taylor and Kim have been at odds for a long time.

    On her latest album Swift took jabs at Kim with a song titled Thank You
    Aimee — stylized as ‘thanK you aIMee,’ spelling out Kim in capital letters — which fans took
    to refer to Kardashian.

    The ongoing feud between Taylor and Kim appears to trace
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    Pablo.

    In that album’s song Famous, Kim’s ex-husband raps:
    ‘I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that b**** famous.’

    The line, which alludes to when the 46-year-old rapper interrupted Taylor’s win at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards,
    was supposedly passed on to the songstress for
    approval, but she denies ever giving it the OK.

    Taylor said she had been contacted about the song, but she was ‘never made aware of the actual lyric, “I made that b**** famous.”‘

    In an effort to prove Kanye’s version, Kim shared an edited clip from the studio of him calling up Taylor
    and seemingly getting her approval.

    However, the clip shows him conveying the idea, more than the specific lyrics, and when the complete call
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    Lana branched out in a bizarre forest nymph dress and headpiece draped
    in a tulle veil at the event

    The singer left some heads scratching in the unconventional look, which consisted of a
    corseted custom beige gown designed by Alexander McQueen’s Seán McGirr

    The star took the ‘Garden of Time’ theme to heart, with
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    She accessorized the outfit by holding a single red rose in her hand

    Del Rey recently teamed up with Kim for a Valentine’s Day SKIMS campaign

    Lana certainly had all eyes on her with the eyebrow raising
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    She paired the look with chunky white clogs 

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    This year the event is titled Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening
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    Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Bad Bunny and Chris Hemsworth are this year’s co-chairs.
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    The pieces will all be displayed using elements such
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    ‘It is very much an ode to nature and the emotional poetics of fashion,’ said Andrew Bolton,
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    The honorary chairs for the evening are Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson and TikTok CEO
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    Lana was joined by designer McGirr, who looked dapper in an all-black look  

    He matched Lana’s rose with a dark rose-shaped
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    Meanwhile Kim – who is known for her curvaceous figure – showcased a wild
    body transformation in custom Maison Margiela, sparking shock
    reactions with her thin waist

    ‘One thing I hope this show will activate is that sensorial
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    Guests expected to attend include the Kardashians, Blake Lively, Hailey
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    Gwendoline Christie, La La Anthony and Ashley Graham are
    hosting while YouTuber Emma Chamberlain is expected to interview stars
    on the red carpet.

    Last year’s gala honored late designer Karl Lagerfeld.

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