(This weeks blog entry is by GCI Mission team member Mike Daily. Mike first met me as a graduate engineering student at Oklahoma State University in the 1980's. He and his wife have partnered in a number of Family Discipleship Seminar ministries in the United States over the years. Since that time Mike has been on Mission trips with me to both Zambia and Nigeria. I trust this testimony is a blessing to you. Please pray for Mike and the other laymen who laborer so selflessly in the harvest fields of the world with GCI.)
"Why should I go to “the remotest part of the earth?”
Acts 1:8 - "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Why should I go on a mission trip to a part of the world that already has Christians in it? Why don’t I just work with the people in my country and let the Christians in other countries work with their own people? Seems to me like that would be more cost effective. It costs a lot of money and a lot of time away from my family and my job for me to travel 10,000 miles to do what any average Christian could do. Why is this a good idea? Besides, I financially support missionaries so I’m OK, right?
These are the thoughts that came to my mind whenever I was asked to consider going on a mission trip.
Nevertheless, it was time to go. Perhaps I would learn something. Perhaps it would change my life as some had told me mission trips often do. Besides, God commands us to do it.
Matthew 28:18-20 - "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'”
Acts 13:47-49 - "For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’ When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region."
I Peter 2:9-10 - "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY."
Jesus even praised the Queen of the South for her willingness to travel long distances.
Matthew 12:41-42 - "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here."
Besides, I really did not have a good reason not to go, so I went.
What I found is that there is something about me being on an “official” Christian mission trip that has a real effect on other people that is out of the ordinary.
In some ways, I became a mini-spectacle.
Hebrews 10:32-38 - "But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM."
As you sit next to me on the airplane, you realize that I am not going to Zambia to see Victoria Falls. And that I am not going to Africa to see the animals. Then why is he on this airplane? He’s using weeks of vacation time, spending thousands of dollars, and traveling to Zambia to obviously do something that is far more valuable than those things. Whatever that "something" is must be really important. I wonder what it is. When you ask me, I tell you I am going to teach the Bible and then I say, “May I share with you how I became a Christian? It only takes 5 minutes.”
When I got to Zambia, the same thing was also true. "Why did you come? Will you have time to see the animals? No. Will you have time to visit Victoria Falls? No. I am here to teach the Bible. May I share with you how I became a Christian? It only takes 5 minutes."
Before I left on the trip, my co-workers would ask me, “Why are you going? Will you be digging wells or painting buildings? No. Will you see Victoria Falls? No. Will you get to see the animals? No. I am going to teach the Bible. May I share with you how I became a Christian? It only takes 5 minutes."
When I got back from my trip, people would ask me questions. "Did you get sick? No. Did you get any parasites? None that I’m willing to share (I didn’t actually get any parasites). Did you see Victoria Falls? No. Why did you go? To teach the Bible. May I share with you how I became a Christian? It only takes 5 minutes."
Some people combine tourist activities or business activities with their mission trips, but I strongly discourage you from doing that. Once people find out you are doing those outings, they assume your tourist or business activities are your real motivation and you stop being a mini-spectacle that God can use. Instead, set aside other interests in order that you may bear fruit.
John 12:24-26 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." "
Please be in prayer for Mike as he ministers on the job site, at his church and on the mission fields of the world. In 2018 Mike has invitations to join GCI in Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa. Ask God to give him wisdom and guidance as he considers these opportunities.
By His mercy, II Corinthians 4:1 Rev. John S. Mahon Director: Grace Community Int. – Preparing for departure to Nigeria (You can update yourself in terms of our most current ministry praises and events on our GCI Facebook page. Simply “like” us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/gciweb.)
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