I often meet people who are excited to hear that I go on mission trips. And their usual reaction is “I’ve also gone on a mission trip!” And then they usually go on to describe some exotic experience that they experienced on their mission trip. Sometimes they mention some activity that they did (eg. build something, do a skit, give out candy). Seldom do they describe the changes that God worked in their lives because of that trip. And even less often do they mention the impact of the trip on the lives of people to whom they were supposed to have ministered to.
I’ve come to the conclusion that for most churches and people going on a mission trip is primarily an opportunity to go to do “something” in a foreign place – preferably an exotic foreign place. It’s become the church version of adventure tourism. If lives are impacted, it’s a bonus. The main thing is that it has to be foreign and exotic.
The Lord gave us a mission in Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, go and make disciples…”
If a mission trip doesn’t make us more like a disciple of Jesus Christ and make the people that we minister to more like disciples of Jesus Christ, then it is NOT a mission trip – no matter how emotional or exotic it is.
Let’s pray that all mission trips have a mission to make disciples – of you and the one you minister to.
Let’s not cheapen and pervert the only real mission on earth!
Read www.goducate.org
Dear Family and Friends,
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