Tonight, I went to a class at Watermark Church that was focused on helping its members “Find Their Mission”. Basically, this class was for those people that wanted more than just a once a week service and even small groups weren’t enough. Outreach and external focus on the community around us was more or less the big topic of this class. However, with tonight being the first night of a series of meetings, the topic was on the Gospel. After all, what are you going to say to people when they ask why are you here?
Before the meeting started, we were all split into tables around the room and I got to sit and chat with a few girls that were in college. Sara is in nursing school and really searching for what is coming next. She told me how she would love to be able to use her skill set on the mission field, but had no idea where to start. There seems to be so many options out there, so how do you land on one? My only advice was to throw the dart.
If I had any advice to give to college students that are looking to take the next step but paralyzed by all the options, I would just tell them to pick one. If God doesn’t make it crystal clear, then look into the one that most intrigues you. God did wire you that way for a reason, so maybe intrigue is a good thing to start with. It just breaks my heart to see so many incredibly gifted people have so many options in front of them and not pick any of them.
Sara was fun to talk to because it seemed like she just got more excited as the conversation went on. I love talking to people like that. I told her a little about my experience, but even more, I just pushed her to develop one of her own. It’s not about people learning from my experiences, but life also calls all of us to get our feet wet. By the time the speaker got up to start the night, I don’t think any of us were ready to start. We has already started sharing stories and brainstorming. This class was about action after all.
So where should someone like Sara start? I love the fact that she was starting with her local church. My generation is too quick to buck the traditional church parachurch ministries and organizations. Don’t get me wrong, I think these things are great, but I think there will soon be a movement back to the local church because I believe there is an awakening coming in the American church that may take us all by surprise. The church has a mission and I truly believe she’s finally answering the call.
Even if there’s nothing offered at your church, you can still seek the help of your church to send you out, and then come back to it. My church didn’t really offer overseas missions, but I found someone who did and my local church and the families surrounding it sent me off. Now, I’ve come back home to take them back with me. Here’s my big statement for the night. The local church is CRUCIAL in outreach and external focus. It’s what she’s called to do all through scriptures. I think that is starting to take root in the church again.
I pray that more from my generation would return to the local church because I believe the sleeping giant is waking up. And if yours isn’t, then start shaking it up a little and calling your church to the mission that’s so much bigger than your hometown. We are the Body, one Body, and we need to respond like it…
