I have spent the last eighteen years going on mission and leading teams on mission through the local church. The Lord has used these years to hone the way I see and lead mission trips. Often, we miss out on the full potential of a mission trip because, though we have a Jesus-centered starting point, we fail to have Jesus-centered goals, measures, and expectations. Here are some things to think about as you plan.
Two Reasons You Should Be a Missionary
Though I recently posted an article cautioning against being a missionary too quickly, I believe it is also as important to cast a vision for the joy that is found in following God to the ends of the earth.
My time overseas as a missionary in West Africa were some of the most formative years of my life. You do not have to serve in a foreign country to be close to the Lord or obedient to his call. However, I do know that missionary service has some unique joys. Here are two:
Missions is Changing, and We Need to Keep Up
Missions is changing.
Our great-grandchildren will read about this moment in church history textbooks, if the Lord does not return first. Global changes are taking place that will forever affect the way churches fulfill the great commission, and our generation is standing at a major turning point in the history of the church.