“It is insufficient to proclaim that the Church of God has a mission in the world. Rather, the God of mission has a Church.” ~ Tim Dearborn
It is that time of year again, planning summer activities for my kids. Some activities are possibilities to be considered; some are part of a routine. The routine is, when you enter 6th grade you will be going on the mission trip each year. Last year my oldest son went on his first mission trip to Georgia, and this year he is headed to Gastonia, NC. These mission trips provide him with an opportunity to serve others physically and spiritually through servanthood. When he arrives he is given a chore, it could be picking up trash, or power washing someone’s house, possibly scrapping paint off the side of a house (which he did last year). For middle schoolers this is a big deal to put others needs before themselves. This is where teaching service begins.
And if it is the Lord’s will, a fire is lit and the desire for missions grows and grows like my cousin Michael who will be heading off to Latvia sometime in September. His life’s goal is to serve God. He has studied, he has prayed and he has worked very hard towards this goal. Now it is time for God to use a servant in a mighty way.
You might be thinking, well that is all well and good, but I am changing diapers, how does this pertain to me? When you are with a mother’s group that is your mission field; when you are at the store that is another mission field; when you are shopping at Wal-Mart there are people who notice you even when you are not aware, that is your mission field.
We don’t go to church each Sunday or Wednesday so we can learn about missions, Church exists because there is a need for missions. Church is for us to learn more about God, to gain support from other believers, so in return we head out to God’s mission field. We bring people into church, so they can learn more about God and grow.
My Pastor growing up had a term that I will never forget, I think of it often:
COME, GROW, & GO
Come to church, be fed and grow spiritually and then go out into your assigned mission field. Sometimes you find Christians stuck in the “grow”, but there is no reason for growth if you are not going to “go”.
So I challenge you today…..
If your playing ‘In “Other” Words’ , please leave your URL . And if you’re not playing, you’re welcome to join. All you have to do is write a post about the quote on your blog and come back here to add your name along with the rest. You can get the CWO icon here.
I think I took a different route in writing on this quote. It sure made me do some thinking. I love how you wrote on it. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for sharing this quote.
My IOW will go up at midnight, but I still signed it up here (before midnight) as I am going to bed shortly. I hope you don’t mind!
Laurel – gonna be super-busy Tuesday with a dr appt and such so I posted a little early. I’ll be back to read the others tomorrow (hopefully) during nap time! *wink*
Another church in town has a sign as you exit its parking lot that says, “You are now entering the mission field.” Way cool!
You are so right, Laurel. God gave us a mission in our own backyard to fulfill. Although I wouldn’t mind going overseas, but there are many people in this country who don’t know Him yet…
Thank you for picking a great quote and for hosting this week.
Blessings to you and yours…
I love your approach to this quote Laurel, bless you for sharing.
Sometimes you find Christians stuck in the “grow”, but there is no reason for growth if you are not going to “go”.
I have never thought of that, but it is so very true. Good stuff, as always! Thanks for the nudge.
I love how you equate that there is no reason to “grow” if we aren’t going to “go.” I know so many who believe growing themselves is the most important thing. Thank you for the perspective.
Oh, I love that, Laurel! Great take on that quote.
Laurel,
Love this quote and it fits in concept with my Cafe’ post today..Hope you don’t mind that I let one post do double duty!
Also loved your thoughts…I just adore you, sweet girlfriend!
I thought I commented on this yesterday, but I guess I forgot!
What you say is so true. Once we realize God has in places for a reason we can begin to think outside of the box!
thanks for hosting Laurel!
Laurel, this is such a wonderful post. Your boys are truly blessed to be able to participate in these mission trips. You are so right about our mission fields. Even your blog is a mission field.
Blessings to you!
Laurel – What a wonderful tradition! I’m going to suggest it to my daughter to try with her children. At 7, Eve is already asking for opportunities to “serve” others. Thanks for this post!
Bonnie
It’s so true that the church and the mission field are linked firmly together…we need to go out into the whole earth and do something to show how we love one another and God, on a large scale yes, but those tiny things that we also do add up to something enormous!!!
So many Christians that I’ve known in the past, have gotten bogged down in “studying for studying’s sake”; being titilated by the smallest detail of geography, word meaning, etc. in a particular chapter. The whole of their christian lifes are geared more toward the attaining of knowledge than of doing something out in the field of human beings that are longing for God’s love. I’m reminded of the old saying, “Don’t be so heavenly minded, you’re of no earthly good.”
I love the idea of a sign posted by the parking lot stating “You’re now entering the Mission Field!” If we could only remember that every morning our feet hit the floor.
Katie johnson
Missons should be an outpouring of who we are,so it makes sense it would occur in our own backyards too.
Thanks for this week’s quote. It really made me think.
I love “Come, Grow, Go.” Too often too many of us get stuck on Grow. Or even Come. Great food for thought.
It is so good for us to be reminded that each one of us has a mission field. Too often I get so wrapped up in my own little world, and it’s easy to forget the commission Jesus gave to all of us.
Beautifully written Laurel.
I’m going to do mine in a little bit (busy morning).
Thanks for this quote Laurel…it’s a great one! I have added your blog to my side links, I hope that is ok.
Blessings
This one was tough! I don’t think I’ve ever still been stewing over what to write at 4:00 on Tuesday afternoon. I still don’t think I really got what the quote was referring so I’m going to take a little drive around Bloggityville and see what everyone else thought now.
Blessings-Jennifer
unitedThanks for hosting this week. Your son has such a great opportunity to start getting mission minded already. That’s awesome!
I didn’t know Michael was your cousin.
Laurel,
I think this is a great post and also was just wondering what your son is going to do doing in Gastonia, NC….I moved to a new town last Summer (hazard of being a Methodist preacher’s wife) but we used to serve a church in Belmont, NC — just outside of Gastonia! SO , I was just curious what he would be doing there!
God bless you!
Mindy
I couldn’t agree more with your take on this quote! We all need to keep this in the forefront of our minds.
Laurel ~ We left for China in 1996 and everyone use to say, ” I couldn’t do what you are doing”. Those words really changed my view of what Missions was all about. I took every opportunity to challenge all those we spoke to about our field and then shared how the Rich young ruler had a choice to follow after Jesus or stay where he was- Jesus spoke as to why this poor soul couldn’t do it.
It started me on the journey and the reason why I started to blog- it is the turn of events that God used to correct my wrong thinking and I am a changed person because of it.
Thank you for writing what is hard for some to hear let alone do….
We can all say ” oh that is good” but if we only say and not do… then we are but what James writes about…. a hearer of the word not a doer.
Mel……
I love this quote!
My mission field right now is my family and schools and the kids friends, and their families! The list goes on and on (can’t forget my neighbors!)
Our oldest son (9th grade) is going on his first mission trip to Mexico in June. I’m so thankful for the opportunity.
I love how God says to us each day when we read his Word, “Come, Go and Grow!”
Thanks for the great post!
Hi Laurel,
Great post! Thanks so much for sharing. You are so right, our mission field is where ever we go!
I once heard someone say, “To some people we are the only bible they will ever read.” That has always stuck with me.
Take care and God bless!
I found your site through the party and I have saved it as one of my favorites. I think it is neat what your family is doing and I will be back to get inspiration from your writing as much as I can. Thanks for sharing.
The mission field is right smack dab where God has placed us—in our own families, first of all:-) I have grown children and other relatives who need to know the Lord in a personal way. And then, there are neighbors and other people He leads us to. Thank you for a beautiful post. I keep forgetting to join In Other Words…..a crazy time over here. God’s blessings on you.
love,
Vicki