So two weeks ago we were in the middle of our Perspectives in Missions course. reflecting on the content of the course, I'm realizing the sheer amount of content we learned. I would say we covered literally everything about Mission; overseas and in our own backyards. We started off with the Biblical foundations of Missions, so we looked at Paul's life in the New Testament, and how Israel functioned in terms of Mission in the Old Testament. Then we went into the history of Christian Mission. My favourite story was about the missionary Boniface, who went into an area where people worshipped a tree that was supposedly protected by the god Thor. Boniface was incredibly forward and got an axe and chopped it down! He saw an opportunity to minister to a people group by revealing their false god in a vey dramatic fashion. Afterwards, since Thor didn't "strike Boniface down with lightning", the people realized that God was the one true God.
It was a really good course I would have to say, Tim Stabell covered a lot of ground, and I've really gotten to value my own role in Mission because of it.
Looking forward to our missions trip in Vancouver, I would have to say I am definitely feeling that God is going to do great things in my life and the lives of the whole team that is going on the trip. Since this will be my first missions trip, I don't really know what to expect; but I do know that I will experience things that I have never been exposed before, and that is one of many things that I am turning over in my mind.
One thing in specific that I have been anticipating is the eight days that we will be serving in Potters Place. I grew up in a small rural town, so I haven't seen homelessness or poverty to any great extent like it is in the city. Thinking ahead, I'm praying that I will be able to look at everything with the same attitude that Christ had when he was on earth. Jesus would consistently associate himself with those of lower status in society, so I am hoping that I will portray some aspects of Jesus' character while I am there.
While I am looking ahead, some challenges that I think I will face are accumulating in my head. The greatest one, I think, will be for me to not see the people that I am interacting with as lower than myself. I feel like I may be looking at everything and distancing myself from what I'm seeing and feeling, and I will have to stop myself from doing that.
Although I've pretty much just been saying what I haven't been looking forward to I am definitely extremely glad that God has given me this opportunity. I'm reminded of the motto for the Bible Institute that I grew up near, in 2 Corinthians 5:20 it says, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." It is with this verse in mind that I am going into these next few days, and the weeks to follow.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Online Ministry Journal nombre de six
Missions fest was, to me, an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge on a wide variety of topics concerning Mission, both here in Canada and abroad. When i entered into the weekend, I really didn't know what to expect, since I had never been to a "missions fest" before. Looking back at the weekend, I feel like I have actually grown in terms of knowledge of the Church's Mission, and how I am able to fit into that field. After we returned from Vancouver, I returned with a wealth of knowledge from the many seminars, general sessions, and Missions representatives we interacted with.
My favourite general session, the Young Adults Rally, consisted of some beautiful worship music and an excellent speaker; Luis Palau. Luis talked about his own life, touching on things like how his father died ("singing worship songs and praising God") and his banking job that preceded his work in ministry. His speaking was incredible! He was honest, authentic, and I felt like his central theme of "Are You Available" was actually applicable to my life as a young college student. One thing that I found absolutely incredible was the fact that Luis, at the prime young age of 78, was still as spry and active as he was; a goal I have is now to be like him when I'm that age.
Throughout the weekend, all of us Kalèo program students were given free reign on the countless seminars that the various groups put on. The first seminar that I went to was probably one that I liked the most, because it was on "When it's ok to be selfish. That seminar focused on the idea that the reason why most missionaries return from their field early is because the missionary is not looking after his/her own spiritual, emotional, and physical health. The teacher compared a missionary that is not emotionally/spiritually/physically etc. healthy to a flat tire on a car - you are just dead weight, and the team has to put more work into "fixing" you than you are putting into the team.
Over the weekend I also had a chance to interview a member of an organization called Loveworks, who focus on "finding tangible ways of using peoples talents and time to show Gods love in practical ways." The organization wants to raise awareness for international justice, most of the money they raise goes to help against injustice in Africa. The representative described how they work as, "helping people who are struggling to find meaning, help those who are struggling to find the means to live, when we do that something beautiful happens."
I feel like my understanding of mission has changed immensely after missions fest, before I did not put much thought into our work in Mission overseas. But now I have a much deeper understanding of how we are as Christians called to "go out into the world and make disciples of all nations." I feel that now that i have the understanding of the practical and Biblical foundations of Mission I will be able to move ahead in my life with more openness to the field of Missions.
My favourite general session, the Young Adults Rally, consisted of some beautiful worship music and an excellent speaker; Luis Palau. Luis talked about his own life, touching on things like how his father died ("singing worship songs and praising God") and his banking job that preceded his work in ministry. His speaking was incredible! He was honest, authentic, and I felt like his central theme of "Are You Available" was actually applicable to my life as a young college student. One thing that I found absolutely incredible was the fact that Luis, at the prime young age of 78, was still as spry and active as he was; a goal I have is now to be like him when I'm that age.
Throughout the weekend, all of us Kalèo program students were given free reign on the countless seminars that the various groups put on. The first seminar that I went to was probably one that I liked the most, because it was on "When it's ok to be selfish. That seminar focused on the idea that the reason why most missionaries return from their field early is because the missionary is not looking after his/her own spiritual, emotional, and physical health. The teacher compared a missionary that is not emotionally/spiritually/physically etc. healthy to a flat tire on a car - you are just dead weight, and the team has to put more work into "fixing" you than you are putting into the team.
Over the weekend I also had a chance to interview a member of an organization called Loveworks, who focus on "finding tangible ways of using peoples talents and time to show Gods love in practical ways." The organization wants to raise awareness for international justice, most of the money they raise goes to help against injustice in Africa. The representative described how they work as, "helping people who are struggling to find meaning, help those who are struggling to find the means to live, when we do that something beautiful happens."
I feel like my understanding of mission has changed immensely after missions fest, before I did not put much thought into our work in Mission overseas. But now I have a much deeper understanding of how we are as Christians called to "go out into the world and make disciples of all nations." I feel that now that i have the understanding of the practical and Biblical foundations of Mission I will be able to move ahead in my life with more openness to the field of Missions.
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