This past year we took ten missions trips as part of our A18 initiative. I honestly think one missions trip is worth more than fifty-two sermons. That's why we put so much emphasis on trips. We want to tithe our congregation to missions.
We're going to do ten trips again in 2010. Here are the countries:
Nicaragua
Spain
Uganda
Israel
Las Vegas
Bolivia
Puerto Rico
Ethiopia
Thailand
Ghana
We're going to do ten trips again in 2010. Here are the countries:
Nicaragua
Spain
Uganda
Israel
Las Vegas
Bolivia
Puerto Rico
Ethiopia
Thailand
Ghana
27 Comments:
A mission trip to Vegas, hmmmm.
I agree that one trip is worth 52 sermons. Might be worth 102 of my sermons.
We've seen people's lives and worldviews completely changed as a result of going on a mission trip.
I'm headed to Kenya in Nov with one of our team and we will probably send another team to Romania soon. Can't wait to see what happens.
Mark
What is the Israel trip like. I take teams each year to tour and do ministry work in Israel. This year Arab Children in Nazareth, Holocaust survivors and working with people who have survived terrorist attacks. We have a worship/ministry team going in 2010. Wondering what you guys are doing?
Blessings on ya!
Israel! that'll be so awesome!
Hmm, that sounds like you're saying that all of the fruit of the tree is worth more than the tree itself."
Without the tree, there would be no fruit.
If the sermon is Gospel-driven and Christ-centered, than I don't see what could be worth more than that.
Short term missions have rocked my world, woken up our church, turned engineers and attorneys into missionaries & pastors, unified our family, changed history & destiny for our kids. I wouldn't call it fruit. I'd call it obedience. I'd call it becoming "unblinded", uninsulated, unbelievable faith to call the church to 10 mission trips. I'd love to join you.
Boy, I'd like to chat with you about this. Maybe even give you the missionary viewpoint. Or even the Ugandan or Nicaraguan pastor's...
Yes, you are right. It is obedience. Where does obedience come from might I ask you? The proclamation of the life-changing Gospel. I'm not against mission trips, just reckless statements that are not well thought out. Peace
rwren,
A sermon is second-hand knowledge. A missions-trip is first-hand knowledge. Big difference between those two. I'm not discounting sermons. It's what I'm called to do :) But let's be honest: most Christians are educated way beyond their level of obedience. we don't need more knowledge. we need to do more with our knowledge.
Was I being a little hyperbolic? Probably. But that makes the point.
Hope that helps.
Mark
Ron,
I'm honestly not sure about the Israel trip. We're still in planning stages for most of them.
Mark
rwren,
me too :)
i think obedience comes from being obedient to the Holy Spirit and the conviction of the word. that can happen by reading the word yourself or doing the word, not just proclamation.
mark
Mark,
Are you sure that your point that "Christians are educated beyond their obedience" is true? (maybe in your church)
That might have been generally true a couple hundred years ago, maybe even 50 years ago. However, I think if you could survey a 1000 "Christians", then you might find a malnourishment of true Gospel knowledge.
A sermon should not provide mere facts (a lecture), but should be Gospel-driven. This kind of sermon, of which many evangelical churches are not preaching, is the kind that forces us to see our sinfulness against His holiness that breaks us to the point of repentance causing us to cry out for mercy and abandon ourselves.
If this type of preaching doesn't happen, then true missions will not.
Peace-rw
RW,
Not true across the board obviously. but i do think our problem is less knowledge and more obedience. of course, part of it is that we don't want to know the truth :)
Job 11:6 says true wisdom has two sides. In other words, truth is found in the tension of opposites. so somewhere in the tension of these comments lies the truth. And the truth is, it's an all of the above approach.
having said that I still stand by the statement that one mission trip will do a lot more for someone than a sermon--and I guess the # varies by how anointed the preacher is :)
Mark
Mark,
I don't want to be guilty of splitting hairs and your comment about tension rings true. As I was tweeting, I read this statement from someone I follow and I think it sums my perspective the best.
Gospel: I am accepted, therefore, I obey. Religion: I obey, therefore I am accepted.
Peace to you. - Rob
Where on the map do you find the country of "Las Vegas"? Of course I am being facetious.
Can some give thoughts on this idea.
Why spend soooooo much on airfare and places to stay? why not just send the money to missionaries that are there already?
Dear baj1959, here's a better suggestion - in addition to sending short-term teams, we definitely should "up" our giving to the in-country missionaries. When God clearly calls you to go, He doesn't add in a cost-contingency clause. He doesn't call you to go then give you the "opt-out by sending in $4000 instead plan." His call is very specific and has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with obedience, faith, focusing on Him and His purposes. If you've ever been on a short-term mission, you know that it's almost like you're a life-preserver being thrown to those who are already drowning in the work. There is SO MUCH work to be done and a few scattered missionaries cannot possibly accomplish it all. They don't have the time, the resources, the strength, but we can shore them up. We can work in conjunction with them. We can bring in supplies, resources, fresh eyes and hearts. We can be an encouragement to them. We can help affirm their calling. We are often times a direct answer to their prayer for help.
here's my take. people who don't go don't give :) the way you get a heart of missions is doing missions. you need to experience it first-hand. we've also had quite a few NCCers return to the mission field after a short term trip. a one-week trip turns into a lifetime calling.
if you've never been you need to go. it'll change your life!
mark
Thanks
When is the Uganda trip?
What are you doing here in Thailand? We are missionaries here with IMB. We've been here for 19 years in Bangkok.
Ten trips from one church in a year - Praise God! That's excellent! ... I have a great burden for missions work as well.
You may like to check out www.joshuaproject.net if you are not already aware of it. The stats and information there can really help to bring greater focus and definition to the task of missions. According to their current count there are 6,631 groups of people around the world still unreached.
I agree that going on a mission is so important! My husband and I lived and worked in Jerusalem and Bethlehem as missionaries for 8 and 3 yrs respectively, and the volunteers that came even for just a week always went away with incredible experiences. Plus, in the Middle East where many Christian groups are small and isolated, the spiritual encouragement and support of having other Christians come and help is just as important (and I would argue, sometimes more important) than financial support.
I was actually reminded of 2 Corinthians 7, when Paul says that in Macedonia he was harassed with "conflicts on the outside, fears within." (Sounds just like being in Israel!) But Paul goes on to write that "...God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him."
I would love to know more about the mission trip to Israel when you start to put it together; and if you need any help, my husband and I are always willing to serve! My husband is fluent in Arabic and Hebrew, and is a great negotiator! (I know cost can be a big issue in getting mission teams off the ground.)
Adam,
we work with watoto village in Uganda. made our first trip a few years ago...
Mark
So excited about this year's missions! It's amazing to see all the fruit that has come from this last years trips. I would agree that our biggest givers are those who go. Here are a few answers to some of the questions above:
*Israel – A portion of the trip will be a pilgrimage, but we’ll also work with a local Christian project in Israel and Palestine. Let me know if you’re interested in going.
*Uganda – This will be next July. We’re going up to Gulu this year (where a lot of the conflict has occurred) to work with Watoto ministries.
*Thailand – We are working with The Well – a ministry to girls coming out of the sex trade. We’ll also connect with a ministry to Burmese refugees.
*Next week we'll go public with all the details of this next year's missions, so you'll get the full version at church!
I look forward to continuing to team with many of you to engage the needs of our world with the hope of Christ.
Joel Schmidgall
NCC Missions
Joel@theaterchurch.com
I have been on at least 6 missions trips. Just wanted to stir the pot of discussion.
This is a great blog entry title. You see Jesus operate several times in this fashion. He sends out the 72, the 12, and leaves the former demoniac called Legion in the Decapolis to do missional work.
Hmmmm. Maybe I could meet you guys in Thailand.... I'll have to email Joel & Nina and get more info!
-Jessica Powers
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