Photo Caption: Pat Abbott has spent nearly 30 years in Uganda. Her discipleship ministry, Women of the Proverbs was created out of her desire to see her own heart continue to be transformed as well as the hearts and lives of Ugandans through God’s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Learn more here.
It’s refreshing to cast a positive light on a topic that typically draws a long list of cons. Challenge the status quo now and then. Flip the script. Dare to think differently.
Now, if you have ever wandered into a faraway country with only Jesus and a backpack, this might not be the article for you. But for most of us, the thought of going into a foreign country to share our faith raises a thousand questions and a thousand more emotions. Holding out the message of hope in a culture unlike our own, often in an unfamiliar language, can arouse countless trepidations. There can seem like an endless list of reasons not to go on a mission trip. Today, we propose some advantages to saying “yes” to missions you probably haven’t considered.
Before we get into it, let’s preface this. We’re not here to debunk any myths. The Serge missionaries who serve around the world are neither tearless nor fearless. Missions work is hard. Really hard. However, those called to this work will walk, in the beautiful words of Brennan Manning, with “the victorious limp.” Such a magnificent and mysterious oxymoron. The limp is our frailty and humanness and weakness that keeps us coming back to Jesus over and over. It’s how one learns to walk into mission work. And it is a biblical picture of the victorious life.
You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that all the reasons to participate in God’s mission to the world don’t depend on how good, talented, well-versed, or traveled you are. It does not depend on you. That’s great news, especially for those of us who feel like we don’t have much to offer. So, let’s begin.
Benefit #1: Never boring
Dr. Eric McLaughlin, Serge missionary and medical doctor in Burundi, Africa, tells this story in his book Promises in the Dark:
“I’m walking up to the hospital at seven o’clock in the morning. Rachel is holding our baby and gives me a thumbs-up as I head out the door. Down the sidewalk, through the walking gate, up the rutted road, up some stairs, and through the back hospital entrance. I have my day planned out. I’ll head straight to the NICU and start seeing newborns. Then, at nine o’clock, I’ll go down to the ward, where my intern will have finished seeing the older kids. We’ll round. We’ll drink some chai. Then, we will return to the NICU and see the rest of the babies. Being home for lunch seems very possible. My plan lasts for about 10 minutes.”
Dr. Eric McLaughlin
Every day, the mission field can look different. We’re stepping into an adventure since God is the one who opens doors and leads us down paths toward the expansion of His kingdom. We witness first-hand all the ways God is moving among the tribes and nations of the world. And that promises to be quite a ride.
Benefit #2: A front-row seat at the concert of a lifetime.
Missions work gives us a VIP backstage pass to what God is doing. When we say yes to God’s call on our lives, instead of backing into a corner from fear of uncertainty or failure, we gain an exclusive vantage point.
Whether we’re saying yes for the short-term or the long-term, serving cross-culturally gives us new vision to magnify our small part in this grand story of redemption. And when we allow ourselves to be a tool in God’s hands, He uses us to build relationships on the field that have the potential to shape someone else’s eternity.
All of a sudden, we’re not just seated audience members, but active participants in Kingdom-work. What might it look like for us to step out with a fearless faith? Or be open to the idea that even our failures can be used by Him for His great story of redemption?
Benefit #3: Supercharge your spiritual, personal, and professional growth
Eugene Peterson describes it as “a longer stride and a larger embrace.” Let’s read from 2 Samuel 5:10 about a young man named David. “And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.” The term “greater and greater” in Hebrew is translated as “with a longer stride and larger embrace.” Here’s how Peterson explains it:
“When we grow, in contrast to merely change, we venture into new territory and include more people in our lives – serve more, and love more. Our lives becoming more, not less. We encounter God alive, God in covenant with us, God pulling the best out of us. We find ourselves at levels of aliveness that we didn’t know existed… a willingness to venture and risk that puts electricity into the word faith. When we take David’s story seriously, we find that we’re taking our own stories seriously, realizing just how God-shaped, God-influenced, God-graced these storied lives of ours in fact are.”
Eugene Peterson
Cross-cultural missions can signal a journey toward maturity in the life of the believer. It can stimulate a deepening and development of character. Even more, it can be a catalyst for expanding our skills, honing our abilities, and venturing out with giant leaps. That, friends, is where leadership begins. There is more to be learned on the mission field than about anywhere else on the planet. A longer stride and larger embrace.
Benefit #4: Learn to appreciate the simple things
One of the valuable lessons the mission field teaches us is to understand need versus want. We learn to live with less. Simplification of things multiplies gratitude. Our overabundance of things in the Western world hasn’t done us any favors. When we see with new eyes, clearing the clutter, we begin to see God’s provision and blessing. It’s remarkable how God really does care for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and how much more He cares for us (Matthew 6:25-34).
It’s easy to think of reasons not to participate in God’s global mission work. However, our hope is that you might be surprised by all the benefits. They are worth considering. Whether it’s a one-week mission trip to London, an eight-week internship in Kenya, an 18-month experience in Ireland, or longer, Serge is here to journey with you every step of the way. Explore what missions might mean for you today.
Just one small step at a time.
A daring move that will reap benefits for eternity.
Are You Ready to Go?
We invite you to discover how God can use you, your unique gifts—even your brokenness—as a vessel to pour out His grace to others in cross-cultural ministry.
