What I Learned About Missions Through a Year on the Mission Field

One of the biggest questions you receive before leaving for the mission field is, why? but in reality, people are really asking, what’s the point?

And after 11 straight months of ministry, what I learned about missions is this: 

The point is not cool stories.

It is not wild accounts of crazy adventures that make for good Instagram pictures. It is not enthralling stories about poor decisions that ended up with oneself in a risky situation which God miraculously brought you out of. It is not about anything that glorifies the Self or magnifies one’s own name or ego. 

I think the first points to a wrong motive for missions at all. The second points to our seemingly helpless immaturity and God’s unending patience to rescue His children when we run out in front of traffic, figuratively of course. And the third points to an undead pride problem. 

Let me explain.

The point is not: fun Instagram pictures

Hear me clearly: did I get some cool pictures this year? YES. Was that the point of the year? NO. 

The world overflows with beauty… reminders of God’s creativity and His fingerprints reflecting softly off of every big and small beautiful thing. We have to walk the fine line of capturing just enough in photographs and videos to recall it later, while still viewing the world primarily through the eyes God has given us, not the iPhones in our pockets. 

It can be easy to get so caught up in trying to show off on the internet that we forget to show up fully to the moment in front of us. 

The point is not: cool stories 

I think it was somewhere around month 6/Panama/June (however you want to reference the timeline) that I started outright saying, “I’m not here for cool stories.” 

And what I meant by that is that I wasn’t in the business of making risky or unwise decisions for the sake of a story. Does a life lived faithfully following the way of Jesus sometimes lead to cool and crazy stories? YES. But it also sometimes leads to boring and seemingly uneventful moments where all you’re doing is planting a seed or dripping some water on soil you can’t see any growth coming from. 

But I’d much rather live a dull but faithful life than an exciting but foolish one.

The point is not: to call yourself a “missionary” 

What would life look like if you committed to faithfully serving and engaging with your local church for an entire year? When I say commit I mean COMMIT. Show up early, stay late, move chairs, open the door for people, volunteer to set up special events, pray for your pastor, pray for your elders, pray for your small group leaders, pray for the random people who wander in each week, join a small group and be the most faithful attendee, share the gospel with your words and with your actions, take meals to new parents and sick friends, celebrate birthdays and engagements and accomplishments with your community… I mean ALL IN, life on mission IN your local church. THAT is what it means to be a missionary, anywhere and everywhere. 

I am no expert, only a follower of Jesus with a keen eye for observation and mind for deductive reasoning, but I can guarantee your life will change. You will be a better disciple of Jesus and friend of sinners because of it. 

So if you’re really interested in being a “missionary” — look up and look around. You have a mission field ripe for the harvest all around you. And it is very likely one in which you already understand the culture, speak the language, and have personal connections. Leverage it all for the sake of the kingdom. 

So what is the point of missions then? 

In my opinion, it is obedience. To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To the laws and commands of God. To the decrees and teachings of Jesus. And to the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit. 

An obedience to make disciples as you go (Matthew 28:19), to share the full and unadulterated gospel, and to live faithfully in a world of compromise. 

I read a lot of books this year, and one in particular had this quote that stuck out to me: 

“Obedience is a willingness to do whatever, whenever, wherever God calls us. And that looks very different for each of us. It doesn’t always necessitate going halfway around the world. Often the most courageous actions only require us going across the room or across the street.” (In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson)

So friend, go. Be a missionary. Across the room, or across the street, or across the world. But don’t wait for the distinct calling to go across the world before you open your eyes to the hurting and lost people right next door. 

Today is the very last day of the World Race. Tomorrow I’ll get on a plane and start the journey back to the USA. I can’t fully explain what it feels like to be at the end of what at one point felt like it would never end. Please pray. For what? I don’t know exactly. I suppose, ultimately, for a life more devoted to Jesus and surrendered to the work of the Spirit. For a heart, soul, and mind set on loving God, loving people, and doing the next right thing. 

Thanks for following the journey. I have a few more blogs in the works over the next few weeks before I sign out of this platform for good, so stay tuned for just a little while longer, I’m not done yet.