I’m writing this post from the international terminal in Atlanta, Georgia. I am boarding my flight to Doha, Qatar in about 20 minutes. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking, praying, and considering all of the transformation that is about to happen. In me, in hosts, in people I meet along the way… I mean this is about to get CRAZY, but there is something that the Lord and I agreed upon… I will not save a single person this year. Not even one. Now stick with me here, this isn’t what you think but there are some things that we need to talk about.
As I have been preparing for this year and have been letting people in on this plan that the Father has invited me into, I have gotten two pretty typical responses from both sides of the spectrum. Some people will respond with teary eyes or excitement assuring me that I am about to “change the world.” Then there is the other camp. These other people respond with a look of hesitancy and disdain. These are the people who think I am wasting my time with short term missions. These people believe that no matter what I do, my actions will be destructive. Both of these people are right, and both of these people are wrong.
Let me just make a few things clear:
- Short-term missions are a special beast and this year I am essentially going to be doing eleven different short term missions back to back. There are certain things that just cannot be accomplished in a month. I cannot impact the political climate. I cannot change the economic status of the people I meet. I cannot do much of anything to significantly improve their circumstances.
- People who think that they CAN accomplish any of the above things on a short term mission are likely causing more harm than good.
- My economic status, political affiliations, and life circumstances do not ever make me superior to those that I am serving… unless I attempt to accomplish the things mentioned above. Then it does. Then it becomes me vs. them mentality.
Alternatively, here are some things that I CAN do this year:
- I can (and will) come alongside my ministry hosts. What I mean by this is, I won’t do a single thing to change or shape their ministry, but I WILL ask them what their God given vision is/has been for their ministry. From there I will do everything that I can to support their vision and toss aside mine. I’m just joining.
- I will save people from the chains and bondage of sin. I won’t save them from anything else. That’s it (but hey, that’s pretty huge). I get the responsibility of bringing people into relationship with their loving Creator but that’s the only change I get to make.
- I can pass on the practical skills that I’ve developed throughout my life. Whether that is cooking, playing sports, my deep love of board games (very important), or my musical abilities. I can help people by giving them real, tangible skills. Some seem less important than others perhaps, but it is all in the hands of the Father.
The most important point that I can make here is that each and every person is created in the image of our beautiful Creator, the Lord of ALL the universe. They are all gifted, talented, and called. I want people on both ends of the spectrum to realize that I won’t be lifting people out of poverty. I won’t be ending world hunger. I won’t be able to stabilize chaotic political situations.
I will be lifting people up into a relationship with God. I will be ending the lies and doubts that they’ve been fed by the enemy. I will be able to stabilize their self-worth and self-importance by showing them how much Abba LOVES them… how He looks at them and says “My child, you are beautiful, perfect, and working the way that you’re supposed to.”
I mean, I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s worth a whole lot more than $17,617.
