A Mission Vision

It was on a mission trip to Mexico City in the early 1980s that I had a revelation. Joyce and I were visiting a neighborhood for a local church. We were going door to door sharing our testimony, talking to them about Jesus, and inviting them to the local church. Our translator was a high school teacher who was also a member of the church we were representing. The area was steep in places as we climbed the hillsides. The houses were built next to each other in a tight mass that was densely populated, up to 80,000 people per square mile. At that time Mexico City was said to hold over10 million people, and it was on the rise.

At one point we stopped to look back at the valley below us. The scene was breath-taking as we saw a valley stretched out to a distant mountain. As far as the eye could see there were no patches of green, only city.

“Mexico City is really big!” I said to our guide.

“This is not Mexico City,” he said, “Mexico City is through that pass,” he pointed to our right. “This is the suburbs.”

Suddenly I had a sick feeling in my stomach. I already knew that with the Baptist Seminary in Mexico City and other missionaries assigned for evangelism we had around fifty SBC missionaries assigned to this area at that time. That was considered a large contingent for a major city. Fifty missionaries were supposed to reach ten million. That is an impossible task. Then I realized it was not just their responsibility. It is the responsibility of ever Christian to reach the world for Christ. They need our help.

I have been asked why I take mission trips to other countries when there are needs here at home? I tell this story. If we take two weeks out of a year to do groundwork to assist our missionaries we still have fifty weeks to reach our local community.

When Jesus gave His Great Commission He said, “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Jesus did not say go here first then there. He said go both here and there.

Perhaps we cannot all go. Indeed, we should only go if God calls us to go. But we can all send with our prayers and our resources. Our summer missions include trips to The Dominican Republic, Vancouver B.C., Alaska, and our Summer Children’s Program. Pray for all of the teams. Ask about ways you can help. Volunteers are needed for the summer outreach. This is us being the Church Reaching Across the Street and Around the World with the Love of God.

Bro. Robin

Front Porch Missionary

Mrs. H. was a sweet elderly lady with a heart for missions. She was involved in Sunday School, church, and the women’s mission organizations for as long as her health permitted. When we announced that we would be taking a mission trip to Africa she wanted to be involved. By this time her age and health kept her homebound except for coming to church on Sunday morning. She told me that all she could do was pray and that she would pray for us every day.

Mrs. H. had a habit of sitting in the same chair every day with her Bible and prayer list and spend much of the morning praying and reading her Bible. When spring brought warm weather she began to sit outside on her porch for her early morning devotions. It was a special time for her to talk to her Lord about people including many missionaries who were on her prayer list.

One morning she noticed the children walking by her house on the way to school and she began to pray for them. She did not know any of them. As she prayed she wondered if these same children came by her house on their way home. That afternoon she watched and spoke to some of them as they passed by. Two middle school girls stopped and visited with her on their way home. After that the girls would stop by everyday for a friendly visit.

As the days got warmer she made some lemonade and brought some glasses with her to the porch. When they stopped by she shared her lemonade. The girls acted like they enjoyed their daily visits with Mrs. H. They began asking questions about her life and she was happy to share her stories and the kind of wisdom that an older woman can share with young girls. The conversations quickly included the Bible beside her chair. As she told stories of her long life and handed out wisdom born from experience she also shared about Jesus and the difference He made.

One day she asked them if they would like to pray and receive Jesus and they both said yes. She listened to them pray and told them to go home and tell their parents. With their parents permission she would be happy to teach them more about Jesus and the Bible that meant so much to her. Mrs. H. continued to mentor those girls for many months after that.

Her story inspires me. When she was not able to go on a mission trip she prayed and God brought the mission field to her. She stayed on her front porch and led two young girls to salvation. Jesus calls us all to go and preach the Gospel, (Mark 16:15). It is not about where or how far you go. It may be to the ends of the earth. It might be no farther than your front porch. God can use you in His mission.

This summer we have a mission program for children here at home. We are also sending mission teams to the Dominican Republic, Alaska, and Vancouver. Pray for us. Pray for God to use you where you are.

Bro. Robin

WWJ Drive

A few weeks ago we were driving home from western Oklahoma. It had been a stressful week and a stressful day, having driven four hours to Kingfisher, Oklahoma, and now we were beginning the four-hour drive home.

Our trip took us through a small town with a large Catholic Church and school. As we drove through town I observed the signs and traffic. I noticed the sign for the Trinity Catholic Church. I saw the buildings and the driveways. As we passed a gated driveway that led to the campus I casually glanced up the entrance and saw that it ended at a garage and my mind quickly noted its three garage doors.

Trinity Catholic Church has a three-car garage! What began as a simple observation suddenly took hold of my attention. Then I thought what would Jesus drive? Apparently the answer is behind door number two. I began to laugh. It was not just any laugh. I laughed so hard that Joyce and Carra began to laugh too. They were laughing at me because I was laughing so hard I could barely tell them why.

The relief of that moment was like a cool drink of ice-cold lemonade after mowing the lawn or a nap in the middle of a hard day. It was a release that brought us relief from the stress of the day. There would still be more stress to handle throughout that week but for the moment there was this reminder of God’s love and His supreme sense of humor.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine.” Sometimes it is the best medicine.

I have tried to share this story several times since then and most people smile politely. It will never be as funny, even to me, as it was at the time. That’s ok. God gave me a good laugh at a time when I really needed one. He loves us like that.

Bro. Robin