Mission Life
Over the years, I have participated in and led dozens of cross-cultural mission trips and have noticed some common threads in each. I’ve seen just how normal it is for travelers, myself included, to return from a “life-changing” trip only to find that their lives are pretty much the same within a few short weeks.
On a number of occasions, I have found myself sobered and humbled by the discrepancy between who I am on the “mission field,” and who I am at home.
What are the factors that contribute to our keen sense of focus and purpose on a mission trip differently than in our everyday lives?
Let’s look at some of the key elements of a mission trip…
1. A sense of urgency—A short-term trip is just that: it’s short. We know we’re not going to be there forever, so we don’t want to waste a single day. We give all we’ve got and we take every opportunity presented to us.
2. The necessity of spiritual disciplines— Since we are constantly pouring ourselves out, we must continually be receiving and hearing from the Lord. We know that our daily ministry, relationships and well-being are directly dependent on our time spent in prayer, worship and Scripture study. It’s non-negotiable.
3. Decreased distractions—We intentionally unplug from technology, media, and consumerism in order to pursue the people in front of us. We aren’t bombarded with a hundred things on our to-do list or running circles in every direction. We disconnect, breathe, and focus on the present (mainly because we have no idea what tomorrow will hold anyway!)
4. Constant community—For 24 hours a day we’re surrounded by fellow journeyers… like it or not! There is built-in (if not forced) accountability, vulnerability, forgiveness and iron-sharpening-iron-ness. We must actually be the church for one another, often because there is no other church.
5. An expectation to see God move—We awaken every morning with a heightened sense of excitement, asking, “what’s God going to do today!?” We submit ourselves to His plan, actively look for where He is moving, and jump to join Him when possible.
6. Purposeful relationships— Our conversations, even with new acquaintances, quickly dive into heart and soul matters. Though brief, we want our interactions to be meaningful. We bravely take opportunities to share truth and hope with our new friends and pray earnestly that they would follow Jesus.
7. The desperation of the lost and the least— Poverty, spiritual bondage, and injustice surround us and hang heavy on our hearts. We are exceedingly aware of all that is not right in the world. God’s passion for the lost and broken becomes ours and we cry out to Him for rescue and redemption. And He vividly reminds us that WE are His light in the darkness.
8. Daily service and sacrifice— We don’t expect it to be easy. In fact, we embrace the difficulties and gladly take up the challenge to tirelessly love and serve. We give ourselves away every day, despite exhaustion and weakness, then we get up and do it again. We count the cost and find that the sacrifice is more than worth it!
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As exhilarating as these things can be during those weeks away, we often inadvertently leave them behind when we board our flight home. But, I wonder, do we need to? Are they only valid on foreign soil?
I submit not!
I believe that we can (and must) live every day on mission with Jesus right here in New York City.
And, I happen to think that those above “ingredients” of a powerful mission trip are the exact same elements that lead to a powerful Mission Life.
We could wake up with a sense of urgency for today, making the most of every opportunity…
We could spend frequent time in the Father’s presence , listening to His voice…
We could limit the distractions around us and plug into our community of fellow Christ-followers…
We could approach our normal Tuesdays with the anticipation that God wants to do something great..
We could pursue deeper friendships, praying for a chance to bring hope…
And we could put ourselves right in the middle of desperate people in order to selflessly serve them because the joy surpasses the sacrifice!
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This is why The Hub NYC exists.
We seek to resource and release everyday people on mission with Jesus in New York City, with the shared values of vocation, innovation, formation and incarnation.
We view our normal day jobs as opportunities to influence society and impact the Kingdom (vocation).
We create and experiment with new ways to see God’s goodness pervade our city (innovation).
We walk in intimate partnership with Christ as he forms and shapes us to be more like him (formation).
And we look to join Jesus wherever He is already at work in our neighbors, friends, and coworkers (incarnation).
If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place. Welcome.