part 3 of 3!!!!
community. intimacy. mission.
The third section we have just started is MISSION!
And oh man, It is insane! Wow! I love it! We had the pleasure of hearing from a speaker named Patrick. He is so wise and knowledgeable about the Biblical basis for Mission. He spoke on a lot. A few main points he spoke on were: What is God’s purpose?- To unite all things on Heaven and Earth, Mission is a means to an end, and only exists because worship doesn’t, and Universal Reconciliation -for- Universal Worship.
That was a big one.
The next topic he dived into was the importance of culture. He explained how the Gospel was made for all people and all cultures. Which I have heard most of my life, but It didn’t completely understand until now. Just Wow. Think about it- The whole Bible can be understood by everyone all over the world? How incredible and crazy is that! The speaker, Patrick, talked about looking through Cultural Lenses. And how to effectively share the Gospel of Jesus, but understanding the culture of a people group and respecting it.
Everyone is still different, We are learning how to communicate Jesus to each person in a way that makes sense to them in their culture. Not every Christian has to look to same. The American Christian way is not the only way. That was so interesting to hear. He is so right! I made it so much more complicated in my mind! I would think, “How am I supposed to break down all these ideas, and cultural norms of people living in other countries and make them understand the right, christian way to live?” Woah. I was wrong. The truth is the truth, but I need to share the truth in a different way to someone in Europe, than I would share it to someone in South America. It is still the truth. I can still respect their lives and culture as it is, but introduce the name of Jesus. Then their life will change without me really doing anything.
Woahhhh.
That was a ton of information. That was just an overview. He dug deep and did an incredible job. We are on the Mission section this month! So I am super excited to dive deeper. There is so much to learn! The bible is so complex but yet it is so simple. All we have to do is Love one another, Partner with God and let the Holy Spirit guide the way.
MISSION IN ACTION????????
We had the opportunity to do some mission outside of our Adventures in missions campsite! (the place we have been for the past month and a half:) We got to help out 2 organizations called path2hope and out of darkness! They are a group who reach a lot of sex trafficking victims. It is so crazy and sad to know that people my age and younger are forced into that, and its right here, a few hours from where I live. We went to a neighborhood right around Gainesville, GA and had a block party! Woah! it was so fun to be able to do missions after being in one place for awhile! Also just a short road trip in the cool AIM vans:D was so fun!!
We split up into groups from our squad and walked all around the neighborhood, and invited everyone to come to the block party! There was free food, live worship music, games, and face painting! We just got to talk to everyone, all the parents and the children, and talk about their life and Jesus as much as we could! That was such a new experience for me! Just going door to door talking to strangers really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but really made me trust that God was there to use me and my team. One young man that opened the door said he already heard about the party and wasn’t going to go, so the squad leader in our group, Aaron, asked how we can pray for him. The young man asked “what does that mean?” Wow. my heart just went out to him. Aaron explained and the young man said he had a child on the way. We prayed for him. That may have been the only time someone has prayed for him. Maybe the only time he has heard about Jesus. We have such a wonderful and amazing part in the kingdom of God as believers. We have the same Holy Spirit in us that raised Christ from the dead. WHAT! The Holy Spirit is always there ready to use you, we just have to say “yes” when God says “will you go?” or “will you talk to that person you see everyday but don’t say hi too?” or “will you pray for the person sitting alone or pray for the person that just cut you off while driving?”
We just have to ask and the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak. “Treasure is kept in clay jars. In the same way, we have the treasure of the good news in these earthly bodies of ours. That shows that the mighty power of the good news comes from God. It doesn’t come from us.” (2 corinthians 4:7)
What a cool experience! I am so excited to do more missions!!!
How can you be stepping out of your comfort zone for the Kingdom of God?
UPDATE????????
We just arrived in Louisiana last night! Yay! We are taking our Sabbath today and spending some intentional, intimate time with the lord, in preparation for serving tomorrow! We are getting refilled with more of the Holy Spirit, so we can pour out in the community here and do some missions for God!!! Please continue to pray for Louisiana, my squad and Samaritans Purse! They are really awesome, generous and a God loving group of people! Praising God through these storms and tough months! Wow. I am super excited for what God is going to continue to do here!
