Lets talk Missions

I AM HOOOOOOOME!

This summer has gone by so fast. I'm not going to lie I'm happy to be sleeping in my own bed again. There's so much I can't wait to share with you, but first I thought I would just open with talking about missions. I've heard a few different takes on short term missions that made me realize people have very different missions experiences and would be important to share.

Being a domestic missionary, it's just natural to have missions conversations. Most of them start with me sharing what I am doing currently at Global Passion and the other person exclaiming "I want to go!" My response, is always "You can!" However soon after this the excited tones turn serious, questions and doubts typically follow suit. We are all excited about missions, what missionaries are doing, and aspect of traveling the world to new exotic places. But if we are all honest we get less enthusiastic about actually going ourselves. 

A friend asked me if I thought short term missions was more helpful or harmful. The reason being was, she had heard a missionary resolutely state all short term missions team are down right harmful. My first response internally was let's say, less than kind. This so-called missionary is saying she doesn't want people who are volunteering to serve where she feels called?! It's my literal job to take people on short term missions trips. So I will admit it felt like someone crumpling up my hard work and tossing it in the trash. Still, I know enough stories that this missionaries concerns with short term missions is not uncommon. Without needing to research anything I am certain there have been negative experiences with short term missions. While this has never been my experience, I know one thing is true: ministry involves people therefore it is broken. Thank you Jesus for coming and helping us!

After taking a second and checking in with God I could explain my heart for missions.

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"

Roman 10:14 tells us very clearly the purpose of missions. People need to hear about Jesus, but how can they hear if no one goes to tell them. I would take it further and ask how did this missionary know she was called to go without first experiencing the missions field herself?

God is God and can do whatever He wants to do. In my experiences, those called to the mission field do so when on a short term missions trip. I am more than willing to do the hard work to see one person experience missions and then get called to go. We are all humans which means we have the potential to mess anything up, but by the beautiful grace of God we can participate as builders of the Kingdom.

In the weeks to come I will be sharing about my short term missions team I led this summer from Alaska to Panama to Orlando. They were all so different but gave a unique flavor of what missions can be.

If you are interested in talking missions, lets talk! I would be happy to answer any questions and hear your perspective!