The most popular question to me over the past couple of weeks has been, “Why do you feel the need to go overseas when there are needs in (my hometown) Conway?”
Or..
“Wouldn’t the money you are raising be put to better use here in the states?”
Or statements such as..
“We need to help our people first, the needs are here now.”
So here’s my answer to all of these: Seeds. We are meant to plants seeds in people’s lives and allow God to let them grow.
The states do need Jesus. The states do need help. There are needs here in the states. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my (almost) 24 years of life is that people in need are people in need no matter where they are, no matter their race, religion, or cultural background. We need to meet people where they are, not exclude anyone from God’s love.
As Christians we are not called to be like other Christians we are called to be like Christ. We are not called to only minister to our community. We are called to rise above and teach the gospel to the nations. Mark 16:15, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”” We see in Luke 8:1 that Jesus went around to different cities and villages preaching the kingdom of God. Jesus himself, pointed out 12 disciples to be with Him and to learn from Him so He could send them out to preach.
In my last post I talked about how I also believe as Christians we are all called to ministry. Ministry looks different for everyone. If Jesus created us all the same and for the same reason there would be no reason for faith. So, instead He gave us all different passions, different races, different spiritual gifts (I’ll talk about this later), different backgrounds, etc. Because He created us all different, we are able to reach different groups of people. I cannot reach the people my friends who live in other cities can reach and minister to. I cannot reach the moms who have kids and are on a different schedule than I am. God created us so that we are able to reach the world by being ourselves! (Clever, huh?)
Back to the spiritual gifts. These are supernatural graces given to us by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission of the church. I think it is extremely necessary for everyone to know their gifts so that we know what we are able to do in order to be the church and reach every person we can. I do not have the same gifts as my mom or best friends and that is okay, it is what makes up the body of Christ. If you do not know or are unsure of your spiritual gifts I encourage you to take the test! Just follow the link below and go for it! (it may be easier to print this off)
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcf_pdf_discover_your_spiritual_gifts.pdf
I understand international missions is a very specific calling. Not everyone wants to go overseas, or sleep in a tent for a month’s time, or pack everything you need for a year in a 65L backpack. I get that. But because God has put this on my heart and has pursued me long enough to make this interest stick, I believe it is what I’m supposed to do in this time of my life. My friends joke with me saying, “Of course you’re going to do this, this is you, this is Emily!” or stuff like “I have no doubt you will live in another country for a long period of time” (a friend actually told me this over a year ago.) They could see it and were confident in this long before I was.
Some people that I know are called to stay in the sates and do mission work here. Some are called to be nurses in hospitals, some are called to be on long term medical mission trips, but is there really a difference other than where you are on a map? People in need are people in need.
Jesus does not tell us to stay stateside, or only preach and do good works in our own community. I believe we need to make the most of where we are and do good works in the here and now, but where that is will be different for everyone.
We sing songs about how God is magnificent, grandeur, omnipresent…but when we “But God” do we really believe in who God is?
I don’t get to be the judge of who gets my compassion. Living like Jesus is what I’m trying hard to do. We cannot be so busy that we miss the moments God sets up for us. Being spirit led is very new to me but I’m a believer in that this what He has been preparing me for, for years.
“The place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” -Frederick Bucchner
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give us His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Never postpone a prompting. If God has laid something on your heart, ask Him to give you specifics. He is the author of this life and He wrote Himself in. He will guide you in which way you are supposed to go.
