This month felt a lot different than any other month. Many of my teammates had trouble seeing the importance in what we were doing in Vietnam. In Vietnam, we were doing what the World Race calls, Unsung Heroes. Our purpose during this month was to find new volunteer opportunities for future World Race teams. The World Race cannot go on without expanding; without someone making contacts and searching for new opportunities. Though it is a vital role in the continuation of this great organization, it is still hard to see this month as ‘missions’, ‘ministry’, ‘volunteer work’, ‘service’, or whatever you want to call what we are doing these 11 months.
So what does missions really mean? Well, the Oxford American Dictionary defines missions as, “an important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel.” Can we carry out this important assignment anywhere we are? In any way that we want? Or is there a certain code or rules for something to be considered a mission?
Most people refer to what the religious folk call the Great Commission as why people go on ‘missions trips’. A commission is defined as, “an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people. The Great Commission referred to in the Bible is Matthew 28:19, “Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” Most pastors preaching on this topic focus on the word “GO”. “Go”, as in to move from one place to another, to travel…
However, the greek word used in the new testament for this passage is poreuomai, which is translated, “as you go on your journey” or “while you travel”. This changes things, doesn’t it? So this passage is really saying ‘as you go on your journey, teach people what I taught you.’ ‘As you go on your journey, make disciples (followers of Jesus) as I have discipled you.’ He is talking about mentoring people while we go about our everyday lives; to incorporate discipleship as part of our lifestyle.
We are all missionaries.
Missionaries- a person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country.
John 15:19, “… as it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world…” We are not of this world. As children of God we are all foreigners in a foreign land. We are the light in a dark world. So what do missionaries do before they go into a foreign land? They study the language, they learn the culture, they prepare and train for their mission. They mold themselves to the culture around them in hopes of creating lasting relationships so they can speak life and hope into their new friends.
We are all missionaries. At our job, at our home, in our friends house, at the grocery stores, the movies, wherever we are. We should all have the same intentional mindset as foreign missionaries do in a foreign country. To train and prepare ourselves and to study and learn the culture around us. Even right there in the city where we grew up. How did Jesus evangelize? Did he pass out tracts? Did he yell out on the street with angry signs? Did he invite people to go to the temple with him and listen to the teachings? No. He lived God’s ways and showed them love, mercy, and the power of His Father. People were drawn to Him, moved by what He spoke and what He did. We all have the Great Commission that as we go about our day we should have the mindset of making disciples. Making disciples as Jesus did. With love, mercy, and with the power of God present and shown in us.
This past month in Vietnam, our time was spent relying on God to bring leads for us to contact and set up appointments to see if we could partner with the work the contact is doing in Vietnam. Sometimes we had many appointments in a day. Sometimes we had none. We always kept ourselves busy either way by seeking out where God was working around us. We practiced listening to the Holy Spirit and letting the Spirit guide us every day. We also spent a lot of team time bonding as a team and pouring encouragement and strength into each other. It was a really beautiful thing to see. God spoke things to me about my own self that I never saw before. And I saw Him do the same for many of my teammates.
This month was a time for self reflection and re-centering to put God at the center of this mission, of my journey. It was an important month for my team and I. And God did use us. When every day you expect God to act and move in your life you are constantly looking for someone that He will send your way. I found myself making eye contact with everyone I walked by and smiling at them to see if God spoke anything about them to me. I stroke up conversations with people while waiting in line. I prayed for people God highlighted to me as they passed by. We prayed for the city of Ho Chi Ming, for the country of Vietnam, that God would bring His Kingdom there. Bring His love and life.
I fulfilled the Great Commission this month by mentoring my teammates, praying for people as they walked by and bringing joy and happiness to people I met on my way about my life. Did my month look like mission work to many people? No. I’m sure not. But it grew me and it grew my team; which will create a stronger stance for His kingdom in the future. And it spread prayers that will penetrate the evil forces of this world, as well as spread joy and happiness to those in a dark and lonely world.
Meeting new friends at the park.
Hiking up to see Jesus statue.
Seeking God’s beauty and love.
