Why?
Maybe you wonder, "Should I spend lots of time and money to go to a foreign country? Is it really worth the expense and the risks of international travel? What is the return on my investment?" Well, here are some possible answers:
- You will be a part of sharing the
Gospel with people who are headed to hell. While only a small percentage of people in South America have experienced salvation, they are open to the Gospel. What better time to go than when they are ready to hear? - There's nothing that turns a culture upside-down for Christ like Christians who are living their faith on a daily basis, but what if the Christians are discouraged and lose heart? Ministry is hard work. When a team comes in ready to work, reach out to people, and build friendships, it encourages those who have a long-term impact on their culture to keep pressing forward.
- It's one thing to be told about the realities of the Christian life; it's another thing to live them. Paul LIVED the Christian life and therefore could speak with authority when he told others, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God," "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." What about you? Have you LIVED these truths? Have you seen God answer prayer? Do you KNOW He is trustworthy because you have
experienced His faithfulness? Do you know He will sustain you because you have come to the end of your own strength and found His? Do you know it is worth living a life of obedience to His ways because you have experienced the ministry that flows from a surrendered, obedient life? Do you have purpose for what you do because Christ's love has taken hold of you and given you a passion to serve others? On the mission field, you will be forced to LIVE your faith... and you'll find out, it's exciting!
Those are some answers that occur to me. This is what I have experienced. I'd love to hear your reasons! For those of you who have been on a mission trip, what do you see as the greatest benefits? What motivates you to keep going back for more? Email me with your thoughts. - Elizabeth Fox, team leader and director of operations for Global Encounters