Your Mission Field
Yesterday the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Church announced the appointment of 92 missionaries. All are foreign missionaries being assigned to places like Africa. It seems Africa is the "mission field du jour." It is the mission filed of choice among people who talk about mission work. I just heard two women yesterday morning talking longingly of how wonderful it would be to be able to be a missionary to Africa.
I am going to make a lot of people mad, but I am sick and tired of hearing Christians talk about Africa. I am sincerely convinced that most of the interest in Africa is the result of nothing other than ego and a desire to feel special among the general public. It is not motivated by a sincere desire to serve God, and spread the teachings of Christ; but is the result of a personal desire for the exotic, and the arrogance of proclaiming a superior religiousosity. Quite frankly, it makes me sick. I am not at all impressed.
In the first two chapters of Nehemiah, and in Acts 1:8 God makes it perfectly clear that our very first objective when it comes to serving God and spreading the teachings of Christ is our home. Nehemiah cried for the plight of his fellow countrymen left in a broken down Jerusalem. It broke his heart when he learned of the conditions they were living with. And Jesus told his disciples that, after they received the Holy Spirit, they were to witness in Jerusalem and then Judea. In both cases, the true servants of God were to serve Him in their home community among their brethren.
I have an online friend named Cam. He is a Canadian missionary serving in the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky. That's right; a Canadian Christian missionary serving in America. Why? Well apparently Appalachia isn't exotic. Is does not have the glamorous image of service in Africa. It doesn't appeal to an ego wanting to be seen as special and spiritually superior. So when fellow Americans living in Appalachia asked, "Where have all the American Christians gone?" I guess the response came back, "Gone to Africa." So their cry for help sent up to God was transmitted to Christians in Canada. They heard the cry and call of God, and responded where Americans would not.
In addition to serving in Kentucky, Cam has spent time serving victims of hurricane Katrina. He has pictures on his Facebook site of the work that still needs to be done in that region. Work that is not being done by American Christians. Why? Gone to Africa. So poor Americans continue to live in wrecked and devastated conditions, crying out to God for help. He hears, but does any one in America hear? Or are their ears tuned only to cries from Africa?
Every Christian has a duty to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ, and spread His love and teachings. The thing is, you can do that right where you live. In your neighborhood, your city, your state, and your country. Whether it is volunteering at a local hospital or children's clinic, working with an organization like Christian Senior Services here in San Antonio, or spending a week in Appalachia or Louisiana repairing homes, there are enough needs right here in America to keep every American Christian busy for quite some time. There are the sorrowful to be comforted, the sick to be attended to, the imprisoned to be visited, the hungry to be fed, the naked to be clothed, and the lost to be found.
So, if you are interested in doing mission work, just stick your head out your door and look around. Your mission field is right there. And if you cannot identify the immediate need on your own, contact a local church or Christian service organization. You may be surprised by the long list of needs and opportunities your are presented with right there in your own home town.
Be bold. Be brave. Go forth in your home, and let His love shine out to all. Amen.
I am going to make a lot of people mad, but I am sick and tired of hearing Christians talk about Africa. I am sincerely convinced that most of the interest in Africa is the result of nothing other than ego and a desire to feel special among the general public. It is not motivated by a sincere desire to serve God, and spread the teachings of Christ; but is the result of a personal desire for the exotic, and the arrogance of proclaiming a superior religiousosity. Quite frankly, it makes me sick. I am not at all impressed.
In the first two chapters of Nehemiah, and in Acts 1:8 God makes it perfectly clear that our very first objective when it comes to serving God and spreading the teachings of Christ is our home. Nehemiah cried for the plight of his fellow countrymen left in a broken down Jerusalem. It broke his heart when he learned of the conditions they were living with. And Jesus told his disciples that, after they received the Holy Spirit, they were to witness in Jerusalem and then Judea. In both cases, the true servants of God were to serve Him in their home community among their brethren.
I have an online friend named Cam. He is a Canadian missionary serving in the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky. That's right; a Canadian Christian missionary serving in America. Why? Well apparently Appalachia isn't exotic. Is does not have the glamorous image of service in Africa. It doesn't appeal to an ego wanting to be seen as special and spiritually superior. So when fellow Americans living in Appalachia asked, "Where have all the American Christians gone?" I guess the response came back, "Gone to Africa." So their cry for help sent up to God was transmitted to Christians in Canada. They heard the cry and call of God, and responded where Americans would not.
In addition to serving in Kentucky, Cam has spent time serving victims of hurricane Katrina. He has pictures on his Facebook site of the work that still needs to be done in that region. Work that is not being done by American Christians. Why? Gone to Africa. So poor Americans continue to live in wrecked and devastated conditions, crying out to God for help. He hears, but does any one in America hear? Or are their ears tuned only to cries from Africa?
Every Christian has a duty to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ, and spread His love and teachings. The thing is, you can do that right where you live. In your neighborhood, your city, your state, and your country. Whether it is volunteering at a local hospital or children's clinic, working with an organization like Christian Senior Services here in San Antonio, or spending a week in Appalachia or Louisiana repairing homes, there are enough needs right here in America to keep every American Christian busy for quite some time. There are the sorrowful to be comforted, the sick to be attended to, the imprisoned to be visited, the hungry to be fed, the naked to be clothed, and the lost to be found.
So, if you are interested in doing mission work, just stick your head out your door and look around. Your mission field is right there. And if you cannot identify the immediate need on your own, contact a local church or Christian service organization. You may be surprised by the long list of needs and opportunities your are presented with right there in your own home town.
Be bold. Be brave. Go forth in your home, and let His love shine out to all. Amen.
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