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Check out more Missions articles on CBN.com.
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MISSIONS
So what’s the Big Deal about
Missions?
By Jenn Rozendal
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com –
It’s usually hot and a lot of hard work, you don’t
get paid and bosses rarely give you free time off, and best behavior
is mandatory. Oh, and to top it all off, the food usually makes
you sick requiring large doses of Pepto!
In America, we inhabit a very selfish culture, one controlled
by dollars, and motivated by the “me first” mentality.
So why is it that some people choose to forgo these fervently
sought after livelihoods and go on the mission field? What is
it about the mission field, whether short term or long term,
some Christians are so drawn to? And are those reasons the right
reasons?
In my research and personal experience, I have unearthed some
of the top reasons churches should participate in mission trip
experiences.
- Trips will give participants, as well as the church,
a vision for missions and a greater awareness of the world's
need to hear the gospel. There is nothing quite
like seeing it first hand. On one of my last trips, it was
amazing to me to see the poverty these people lived in coupled
with the enthusiasm by which they opened their homes and
lives to us.
- The realization that “I can make a difference”. You
may think that in order to go on a missions trip you have to
be able to dig a ditch, but God uses us all in different ways
and that person that holds the orphans all day is just as useful
to God as the person working out in the hot sun.
- Short term missions are a help to the missionaries
living there fulltime. America has quick access
to many resources that are difficult, if not impossible,
for other cultures to get hold of. Simple resources can make
huge differences to the lives of people in third world countries.
In addition, extra pairs of hands are always useful!
- Trips will give people a broader sense of the world
we live in. It is easy to have our blinders on with
regards to the welfare of people outside of our “zones”.
- Participants will get a renewed commitment to their
churches ministry. Often mission trips bond members
in such a way that they develop a greater devotion to the
churches ministry and a unique comradery with one another.
- Participants gain a greater appreciation for their
own accommodations. Many missionaries come back
with a changed heart with regards to what God has blessed
them with.
- It is God’s Commandment. 15 He said
to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news
to all creation.” - Mark 16:15 (NIV)
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
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Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
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