3 Jul 2017

Short term missions are not the race

by | posted in: Missions | 210,297

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.

210297 Responses

  2. personal finance personal budgeting
    | Reply

    There are, of course, other types of accounts being supplied at banks across the country,
    but these are the most common ones. Specializations are a series of courses designed that will help you grasp a skill.
    You’ll find links to the courses I reviewed right here (personal finance personal budgeting Finance, Public
    Speaking, Interviewing) as well as at the bottom of this
    weblog publish (with a big low cost from the checklist value
    on Udemy). For a low cost on Chris’s unique course, A whole MBA in 1 Course,
    click on right here. Recently, I received the prospect to take a
    look at several of Chris’s new programs, those he considers next steps
    after An entire MBA in 1 Course. A course in neural networks, say, or data visualization from the University of Michigan can be a physical
    impossibility for most individuals, yet Coursera makes that accessible to all.
    If this attractive array of programs has excited you
    to learn, Coursera Plus is a vast subscription model that gives a
    worthwhile different to paying for every course you take.

  5. Tollywood
    | Reply

    Hey there, You have done a great job. I will certainly digg it and
    personally suggest to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this website.

  10. Lelia Mason
    | Reply

    Limos aren’t simply for celebrities anymore! They make every occasion feel special. Have you attempted renting one for a birthday or wedding anniversary? Take a look at even more about it at TCS Limo Service

  12. Clay
    | Reply

    Learn More About Buy The IMT Driving License While Working From The Comfort Of Your Home Comprar
    Carta de Condução da Categoria B1 (Clay)

  16. viagra
    | Reply

    I every time spent my half an hour to read this webpage’s content
    every day along with a mug of coffee.

  27. Clara Banks
    | Reply

    Great article on the importance of regular HVAC maintenance! It’s essential for ensuring efficient operation and longevity of the system. I found some useful tips at HVAC repair that can help homeowners keep their systems in top shape

  39. Matilda Peterson
    | Reply

    Ciekawie przedstawione wyzwania i возможности związane с локальным бизнесом i его развитием через seo- ждите новые статьи здесь-# любой строки seo bielsko

  41. בלאק קיוב
    | Reply

    We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
    Your web site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done
    an impressive job and our entire community
    will be grateful to you.

  43. biolife cbd gummies male enhancement
    | Reply

    5Webmentions are an IndieWeb protocol for exchanging messages between sites.
    With the power of 2 e-commerce sites you can utilise the different styles to suit your
    audience. Bathmate is one of the market leading products in the Male Enhancement Sector, You can now be
    a part of that with our even higher paying Revshare offer.

    Q: What are some similar products to Shark Tank ? Shark Tank Male Enhancement is a
    supplement that is meant to help you gain significant testosterone levels in your body,
    improve male power, and enhance muscle growth and sexual performance in general.
    A pain supplement that gives you three benefits
    like physical pain relief, neurological relaxing and
    also mental performance benefits is certainly rare to find and
    BioLife CBD Gummies Male Enhancement
    is the one that does it for you. This has been a major concern among corporate social
    networks, with companies like Facebook and Twitter devoting increasing
    attention toward content moderation (Gillespie 2018).
    The response typically employed by corporate platforms, to hire moderators to review and remove offensive content, is not feasible in a system like IndieWeb that lacks centralized gatekeepers
    by design. And thus, while some values are defined and prioritized in advance of material engagements,
    others may be taken for granted or otherwise invisible until a
    situation emerges that demands attention to a particular value.

  50. 의정부 교정치료
    | Reply

    Please let me know if you’re looming for a article author ffor
    your weblog. You have some really great articles and I feel I would be
    a good asset. If you evrr wajt tto take some of the load off,
    I’d absolutely love to write some articles for your
    blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested.
    Cheers!
    의정부 교정치료

Leave a Reply

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