I’d never been on a mission trip before we moved to Happy Valley. I know, that’s a shocker to some. For about 10 years, I was the youth pastor who’d never taken his teenagers to share the Good News with those lost souls in far off countries? How could I call myself a youth pastor?
I’d love to hold up some well-thought, well-spoken manifesto as to my reasoning, but truth be told, all I knew is that most of my experiences with short-term mission trips left me a little unsettled. Folks talked about taking Jesus to the dark continents/countries, about saving the natives. Others described their trips as glorified vacations, with a few diversionary “churchy” things thrown in. I didn’t see anyone coming back from these trips living lives radically transformed by the gospel of Jesus, empowered and engaged on mission with Jesus. And I couldn’t see traveling around the world to come home unchanged.
Then I ran into Craig Kissell, John Kelly, and Brooks and Sharon Way. They were the folks organizing the second trip Calvary was taking to the Dominican Republic, way back in 1999.
The way they talked about the trip was different. We weren’t going to take Jesus anywhere; he’s already at work there, in the hearts of some beautiful people. We were going to create partnerships, to build relationships, and to help resource some good things that the people who lived and worked and played and prayed in the DR had in mind.
I was intrigued, so I signed up. I experienced exactly what they described, and so much more…to be continued tomorrow!
I had a few people talk to me today (THANK YOU!) about supporting me in finances and prayer for this March trip. If you’re interested, let me know. Every little bit helps…I need to raise $1500 by the end of February. I’m excited to see how God puts this together!
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