Short term mission trips are the rage in Christian circles. You could probably go to any evangelical church and find one to join at some point in a given year. If you read Radical by David Platt he goes so far as saying that everyone reading the book should strive to go on one during the year. What is involved in a short term mission trip? It usually is for a week or two, traveling a fair distance from home, usually to a different culture, enduring a certain degree of hardship, and sharing Christ with people. Not only does it have the potential for changing the lives of the missioned but the greatest change is often seen in the missionary. In a sense, Jesus also knew the value of these because He took His disciples on a"short term mission trip" (STMT) in Mark 4,5. If you notice, they were on the west side of the Sea of Galilee, their comfort zone, and Jesus tells them to get in the boat and sail to the east side leaving their comfort and enduring some hardship. They share with one or two people, they get saved, the people on the east side tell them to leave and they sail back to their comfort zone. That is the Reader's Digest version , but now lets look at all the implications of this STMT and what we can learn from God's Word to apply to us today. I'd like to point out 7 principles from these chapters.
#1. Sow (that's to plant - not a pig) (I can see where it could get confusing in this story)
Jesus does a little pre-mission trip teaching (which BTW is a great idea) in Mark 4:26-32 where He gives 2 parables one of which all the other gospels leave out- "the parable of the growing seed". I'm sure that there are multiple interpretations for this and the following "parable of the mustard seed" but what I cant help but notice is that both emphasize seed that gets sown into good soil grows. I am by no means discounting the current Christian buzz word discipleship because I agree that is where it's at. The Great Commission confirms that. Nonetheless, I believe the Bible teaches that a true conversion will grow and persevere. We often are reticent to present the gospel and have people "pray the prayer" if there is no adequate followup. And as we come back and report the number saved, we are quick to report that such and such a church will be calling on them. Once again, I think that followup is great but don't let a lack of followup keep you from giving people the opportunity to be saved or shame you into not claiming victories in the name of Jesus. The demoniac in this story certainly had no discipleship and Jesus felt that was Ok.
#2 Alone Time
Mark 4:34 states that when Jesus was alone with His disciples He taught them the deeper meaning of His parables. I know a lot of Church Mission trips are about fellowship and hanging out with people you love. Maybe you are going with your spouse. Maybe you are hoping to gain a spouse. Don't miss the opportunity STMT's give you to be alone with Jesus! No TV, internet, malls, cell phones - Just Jesus. This was certainly a time when the disciples learned from Jesus. I'm always reminded of the account of Mary and Martha. Mary availed herself to alone time with Jesus, Martha didn't and she was reproved. When you strip everything away just one thing remains -Jesus. Take advantage of that. Study your Bible. Memorize it. Every spare moment. I remember one mission trip someone brought dominoes and suddenly that was the rage. Satan wants to steal your alone time. Don't let him.
#3" Falling into place"
There is a tendency to think that if we are doing something for the Kingdom of God, like something as noble as a STMT, everything should just fall into place and go smoothly. The money should come flowing in, the passports will all arrive in time, no luggage will be confiscated,the flights won't be delayed, noone will get Montezuma's revenge - and then we know God is really "in this". Look what happened here - they almost drowned on their way there and when they got there a couple of crazy people came running down the hill after them, and the people quickly asked them to leave. I wonder if Jonah thought," how convenient, a ship to Tarshish leaving now and I have just the right amount of money." Be sensitive to the Lord's leading. Yes He may be closing a door on you till a later date but also don't discount the possibility of opposition by Satan who knows you are on the way.
#4. A Bigger God
Mission trips, like nothing else, have the ability to give us a new revelation of God, and isn't this what life is all about anyway? There were two major God "explosions" in this passage - Nature took orders from Jesus and so did demons. Both of these displays of the glory of God blew peoples' minds. How do we know? "They were afraid" (4:41, 5:15). If Jesus is "cool" or "all-right" or your BFF, or homeboy, or the key to a good life, Heaven, etc. you really haven't met Him. Jesus doesn't allow a Ho-hum response. When we meet him , like we can anywhere-but especially on mission trips, our response should be nothing less than a Keanu Reeve's "Whoa!" We should enter into what R.C. Sproul or Francis Chan more recently talk about a terror of the Holy. A new found respect awe and love and a new level of trust and obedience resulting from that. God will show himself on STMT's in ways He doesn't in your comfort zone so be looking.
#5. Saves people from the power of Satan
The thief comes to steal kill and destroy and we see it clearly in the demoniac. He cut himself, cried out all night long, and his mind was crazed, and we see it dramatically in how the pigs behave once they are possessed - they kill themselves. This is where we go on mission trips - we battle not against flesh and blood but powers and principalities. Quite often this distinction is clearer on STMTs. Here, in our cultured areas where everyone is comfortable, Satan works in more subtle ways. He works behind the scenes making us so enamored with the status quo so that when something real , supernatural, life changing comes around, we say, "Please leave, We don't want you here Jesus." This is just as much Satan but more what one sees at home than on mission trips. Prayer is of utmost importance along with humility as we go into these areas to take on the powers of darkness because we have no more chance against Satan than the sons of Sceva
#6. Cost -effectiveness
A mission trip may not make good financial sense. For example, for the amount of money it may cost me to take my family to Kenya and see sick people for 2 weeks I could probably help put a local Christian Kenyan through medical school and serve Christ for life. OK, first of all, if we are honest, we could probably live so minimallistically here that we save enough money to do both. However, God is the source of all our means and wealth. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. We can't be like Judas and say this perfume should have been sold and given to the poor. God doesn't work that way. The benefits of a STMT can't be quantified. And don't feel bad if you went on the trip where only one got saved - like Jesus' trip. It will still be more than worth it!
#7. Missionary everywhere
As Jesus left, the newfound believer wanted to go with Him and Jesus basically said, "No, you are to be a home missionary. You speak the language, they know you, they can see a change. You can reach these people, we couldn't." When I came back from my first few STMTs, the biggest change in my life was I started sharing the gospel at home with my patients. I thought, "I go overseas to share the gospel in a language I can't speak and I don't do it at home? That's crazy!" And that is just how I would open the discussion with my patients and living in the Bible Belt most appreciated it. If you carry an evangecube or gospel beads with you over there, do it overhere. If you do puppet shows or backyard Bible clubs over there do it over here. Otherwise it is somewhat hypocritical
Please, please please... Go on a short term mission trip. It will change your life and many others!!!
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