Every believer should go on a mission trip at some point in their life. It can be across an ocean, across the border, or even across town, no matter where you go it is almost essential to just go. Matthew 28:18-20 says:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
My first official mission trip was over this past spring break. A Christian RSO called Encounter went on a four-day trip to New Orleans to spread the love of Christ. It was our first mission trip as a group, and we were excited to go and be the hands and feet of God. The first night down we meet with a local pastor and went to one of the spiritually dark places in the city, Bourbon Street. One long street in the French Quarter that is nothing but bars, strip clubs, voodoo shops, and a handful of restaurants. We broke up into our groups and walked the street. No particular agenda except to love those who in such darkness needed to see pure love. We prayed with several people and got to tell them that Jesus loves them and had a plan for them.
One woman in particular that we ran into named Nikki was having a "good time" drunk and dancing with a street performer who was dressed as Darth Vader. She engaged someone in our group, and we began to talk to her. She was stumbling and barely understandable, but out of a love that only comes from God we stayed and prayed with her. We spoke life in her that she is a daughter of the King and imparted the love of Christ in her life. During this showering of love and purpose she began to break into tears and share with us some of her story. The look on her face had completely changed. She thanked us repeatedly, hugged each of us and still had tears of joy running down her face. As she walked away she walked upright and in the straightest line I have ever seen a "drunk" person walk (at least compared to how she was when we first meet her).
Now I won't make any claims that she was immediately sober or that she got saved and changed right there, but an undeniable seed of love and change was planted. She told us that her mother was a minister and hopefully out of our obedience to God she will have a talk with her mother and get completely changed by the grace and power or God. But what if we hadn't been there? What if we never stopped? What if we had just discounted her as a crazy drunk woman who was pointless to talk to? It would have been contradictory to God's heart, and our mission. Psalm 34:18 says:"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (NIV). He came for the broken and needy among us, no one is above or below his desire to love them.
The message that Nikki heard that night is the message that everyone needs to hear. God loves them and has a plan for their life. Not out of a heart that wants to tell it to fill some quota of conversions, but out of a heart that loves people (ALL people) because He first loved us. They don't have to be perfect to know God they just have to be willing to listen. Your may never have the opportunity to go somewhere far off on a mission trip and that's OK. Your mission field then is your school, your workplace, and maybe even your home. If you have asked Jesus into your heart and strive to live for him you are worthy and you are his ambassador wherever you are; Just love with the love of the Father.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 (NIV)
