The Mission Never Ends

This summer we put 60 of our students out on the mission field... rather sent them out on mission trips.  They were already on the mission field.  So whether our students were going to Nicaragua, Mississippi or serving at home in Tallahassee, we trained and prepared so that all would understand this foundational truth: we are missionaries not because we are going on a mission trip, but because we are Christians!  So, our mission began when we joined Team Jesus and as we say all the time... the mission never ends!

Even though it seems a bit cliche to say, God really did work in power through each of our teams.  And it's my hope and prayer that each of our students realized that they are still on mission, they just have a different mission field.  As they enter their school campuses this week, they enter one of the greatest mission fields that exists.

John Piper has said that mission exists because worship does not.  That is always such a sobering reminder to me about the urgency and privilege of what we've each - as missionaries - been called to... introducing others to the greatness of God so that they can worship Him to. 

I often think of heaven and how amazing it will be when ever tribe, tongue and nation is gathered singing their praise and giving their worship to Jesus Christ who is reigning on the throne.  What a sight to imagine, that will one day be reality for those of us found in Him. 

Just yesterday, one of my favorite professors at Beeson, Dr. Calvin Miller, stepped into eternity and joined the mighty chorus of worshippers.  Not only did he have a profound impact on my preaching, but really the totality of how I understand ministry.  And the foundation of ministry really being missions.  So in honor of him, I've included his "A Letter to the Church"...

To every Christian who reads this book: you are a missionary. Missions is the joyous work of informing the world that it is loved. Missions is unrelenting in its desire, it pushes in flaming light against the dark walls of human ignorance. It is honest about all things eternal: we can be free only when we know the truth (Jn 8:32).

Missions is clear, cold water--a cup of grace, a draft of life in the desert. It is as free as air, yet as precious as a pearl buried deep in the brokenness of the human spirit (Mt 13:46). Missions is a message, as simple as two words Jesus Saves--one noun, one verb--and yet this simplicity is God's broad banner posted just above the gates of eternity (Lk 19:10).

Missions is ravenous in its hunger to please God. It knows no other purpose for its existence. It lives for the single pleasure of hearing God say, "Well done, good and faithful slave (Mt 25:21). You have told the truth in a false world, you have turned the iron key of liberty in the steel door of hell, and the captives are freed (Lk 4:18)! For this liberation you have been called "missionary."

Missions is a divine madness that hears the voice of God's only begotten, crying from a mountaintop, into all the world (Mt 28:18-20). It takes this cry to bed and pillow every night. It wakes at every dawn, as Christ whispers in the heart, "I was dead, but look--I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades" (Rv 1:18). You must arise for I have come to seek and to save that which was lost. There is no time to waste, the world is loved and doesn't know it. Hold out your hand and I fill it with gold, and you must go out to give the gold away, making rich all those who are poor in spirit (Mt 5:3). Tell all those who starve about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rv 19:9).
To every Christian who reads this book: you are a missionary.

No matter your credentials. All who name the name of Christ have been ordained by the urgency of God's agenda in a fallen world. Missionaries are not just those special few who have accepted some certificate of some profession. They are not servants of a special calling. Missionaries are all those who have said "yes, Lord!" To say "I believe" is to understand that you have accepted the commission to go into all the world, starting right inside your home, your village, your nation, your world. You have been empowered. Christ has breathed upon you (Jn 20:22). When Christ moves in, you move out. Out where? Out there! Outside your narrow life. Anywhere is the place to start. So start. Seek! Knock! Any door will do (Mt 7:7). You need no grand beginning point.

There, it is done! You have spoken to someone the entreaty, "Come with us to Christ!" Congratulations! You are a missionary and missionaries are the merchants of hope. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring Good Tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God Reigns (Isaiah 52:7).

But be not proud! In redeeming the world all arrogance is precluded. There are no good, arrogant missionaries (2Co 12:5). Christ's ambassadors (2Co 5:20) are men and women made humble by the immense size of the message given to them by Earth's Lover. They feed on the bread they give away. They remember who they were when they met Christ, and just that little act of memory causes them to weep that that they once stumbled into grace, before they were ever called to dispense it. Now they are driven by the joy of God's call, they are the cleansed unclean, the forgiven forgivers, the wounded healers. Nothing is more important than their preachment. They live for it, they die for it (1Co 9:16). They will not change their minds and they cannot change the subject. They are intentional about one truth, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did" (Jn 4:29). I can baptize you only with water, but He will baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit (Lk 3:16). Thus holding forth the world in their left hand they reach for heaven with their right hand, and the gulf between time and eternity is pulled shut (Lk 16:22). The world at hand is made one with the world that is on the way.

All we who know Him are the heralds of God, missionaries blind to our own greatness because we have served a magnificent obsession, a glorious compulsion, "Jesus lives, Jesus saves." There is no other significant, eternal truth (Ac 4:12).

The day we became missionaries we were no longer good at the sedentary life. The word "go" forbids us to settle into the plush present, for we know that the future is where we were meant to live, for only the future holds the possibility of us making our next disciple (1Co 9:19). Of course we love our last convert, but that believer has only fueled our fever to meet the next one.

Here in this volume you hold the grand marriage of the Word of God and the Commission of God. This is the book that holds the definition of forty holy men, the Bible writers, who have defined the heart of God. Missions plus the Word equals everything. You cannot serve just one of these, for to serve the Book is to serve the mission (Php 2:16). To fail to serve either of them is to choose to serve neither. Read herein what God has for you, then do all that you have read. Only then will you enter into life a whole person waiting on God, and knowing who you are. And knowing who you are you will find pleasure in your identity (Php 3:8,10).

Your life belongs to the world. Your zip code is the globe. You are a missionary.

 

Mission Nicaragua :: Day 11

There is power in prayer.  Seems like a gross understatement.  However, I would imagine most Christians would hardly describe their prayer life as powerful.  On this mission, not only have we talked each night about an intimate, conversational relationship with God, but we’ve also worked hard to put it into practice.  By God’s grace, many on our team have begun to experience this kind of relationship and many for the first time.  One key area this has manifested itself has been through prayer.  I’ve been so encouraged watching this growth of prayer take place both individually and corporately.

Today we went to Sister Ruby’s house… or as it is better know, “Ruby’s House of Prayer.”  It’s been two years since Sister Ruby left behind her earthly home and stepped into eternity.  Her presence is definitely missed, but her legacy and ministry has carried on in full strength!

We arrived and headed up to the “upper room” while Mike, Coburn and I stayed down with Margarita (Ruby’s sister) to prepare and pray together before we went upstairs for a time of worship and prayer with our team.  God showed us very quickly that He was ready to meet us and He was going to speak powerfully.  And that He did! 

God had a word for many of our students and a powerful time of confession, testimony and healing followed.  I was again encouraged to see our team praying for each other and doing life and ministry together.  We studied the power of prayer, but how much more powerful to experience it in action!  Our time at Ruby’s has become such an integral piece to our mission experience and this year was no exception.  Praise God for His faithfulness to meet us today!

After our team time at Ruby’s, we headed over to everyone’s favorite destination… the market.  After a time of shopping and experiencing new sights, smells and pushy vendors – we headed back to the Buzbees and enjoyed a bit of rest and downtime before we headed out to Doña Haydee (a local Nicaragua restaurant) where we enjoyed some local cuisine in a fun atmosphere.  Spending time together over our last meal was so enjoyable, but also started to help us see the reality that our time was coming to an end.  So we finished the night with our traditional dance party in the bus on the ride back (thanks to Franklin fixing the radio during dinner).

We’ve got to be up at 4:30 am to head to the airport for our early flight.  We’re leaving one Katie behind to head up to the Rio Coco for her extended mission trip and the other Katie who is staying one more day.  We’ll be returning with mixed emotions, but one thing for sure… knowing that God is good and He has been faithful to minister in us and through us this year in Nicaragua!

Mission Nicaragua :: Day 10

Goodbyes are hard.  Good thing they are temporary.  We weren't created to say goodbye and I long for the day that we won't have to say them again.  It's crazy to think that in just a short time you can build friendships that will last for eternity.  Even if we never see our friends here in Nicaragua again, we know that will we see those we are united to by the Gospel again one day.  And what a day that will be!

Today was our last day in the Las Parcelas community and so it was a day full of goodbyes.  We said goodbye to Ruby Ranch where  we invested time hosting our camp and working to prepare areas for future expansion.  We said goodbye to the children from the community that camp to camp with us.  We also said goodbye to Manuel and his family.  Goodbyes are hard... but they are not forever.

We completed the house today.  But we realize that only happened by God's amazing gift of strength and faithfulness to our team.  It's pretty crazy to think that a house can be completed in 10 days here in Nicaragua.  We were glad to be a part of it.  But we'd definitely have to thank the Buzbees, our financial supporters, the community, Marvin's team and even Manuel and his family for making it happen.

This is the largest house we have ever built here in Nicaragua.  It's about double the size we normally build and it's four times bigger than the house they are currently living in.  Their current "house" consists of a semi-covered "kitchen" area which is adjacent to the other "room" that holds 3 beds and a table for their family of four.

Thanks to Marvin's team, we arrived and all the remaining blocks for the floor were laid in the house.  Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.  So we got right to mortaring in the joints and also painting the upper portion of the house.  All the wood framing and hardyboard had to be painted.  Sprinkle in some playing with kids from the community and it rounded out to be a full day.

We had a sweet time with the family - standing inside their new home - holding hands and praying together to dedicate it to the Lord and to their family.  We sang some songs together and rejoiced in the goodness of God.  We also brought them some of the donated clothes to help them out.  The only thing remaining (which will be completed without us) are the two doors and windows.

Our team showed amazing perseverance and tenacity.  They showed hard work and unity.  They showed how the body of Christ works with many parts and different gifts.  Most of all - they showed Jesus.  It was our goal from the beginning and will continue until our mission is over.  And as we learned in our training time... the mission never ends (until the goodbyes have finally ended and we see Jesus face to face)!

We thank each and everyone of you for supporting us and standing with us in prayer.  We'll finish tomorrow and then return on Saturday.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Mission Nicaragua :: Day 9

Wow.  Day 9.  It's hard to believe in some ways, but we are also feeling a bit of the time crunch in other ways.  We really want to get this house finished and dedicated before we have to leave.  The family has been so amazing to work alongside us and encourage us along the way.  Always being the adventurous type, I pretty much try every food they bring out for us to sample.  So far so good.  However, we have a few on the team feeling under the weather or dealing with some upset stomachs (not for that reason) so please pray for them!

I knew we were going into a big day today since we hit a place yesterday where we couldn't help much and then the rains came in.  But God is continuing to teach us to trust His plan and His faithfulness.  And sometimes His plan doesn't always make sense to us at the time.  Marvin - our main man for construction - fell off his motorcycle in the rain on the way home last night and tore up his hands and arms and did some more extensive internal damage to one of his lungs.  He is schedule to have surgery in a few days, yet he was there when we arrived to make sure we knew what to do.  He stayed with us all day and had an amazing attitude considering the circumstances.  We gathered as a team to pray for God's healing and are trusting God to heal him.

Our team did a great job stepping up to the challenge of having our leader down - but not out!  Most of the framing was complete and his crew was working on framing roof and adding the tin sheeting.  Our team had the assignment of moving out a pretty substantial amount of dirt to get the floor level.  This, of course, was all done Nica style with measuring sticks, fishing line, shovels, pick axes and good 'ole manpower.  Then after the floor was level, the piedra de cantera (hand hewn 70 lb solid stones) had to be moved from the road to the house and then put into place.  The work was hard, but the team did great.  Others used their gifts to play with the kids in the community as they came to hang out with us after school today.

Tonight at our team time we talked about intimacy with God through prayer.  There is nothing more encouraging for me as a student pastor to watch our students pray for, over and with each other.  We are also looking forward to our time at Ruby's House of Prayer which should take place on one of our remaining days.  Tomorrow should be another full day of construction.  Please join us in praying for dry weather, good energy and for the completion on Manuel's house!

Mission Nicaragua :: Day 8

Today was a day of flexibility and surprises.  We left prepared to continue building on Manuel's house, but arrived to find there wasn't any work really that we could do.  Our two Nica builders were doing some of the skilled labor of cutting and framing in the top part of the structure.  This is a new style build for us - we typically are mixing a ton of concrete since we usually do all block houses, but the size of this house prevented it.  So the top will be framed in wood and then we will add the siding and tin for the roof.

But God always has a plan even when ours doesn't work out.  So as we've been practicing, we just ask, listen and adjust.  We loaded up the bus and headed over to Ruby Ranch with some of the kids in tow.  After a quick lunch, we divided into the "play" team and "work" team (not really, since playing down here is really work!)

So a group headed out to the school to gather some more kids and play on the playground and then I took a small group up to the top of the mountain - a tough hike with a great view, to clear a flat top that will one day hold an outdoor prayer chapel.  It was hard work, but you really can't complain with the amazing view.  We cut down trees and cleared brush until we had a huge pile ready to burn.  Off in the distance we saw some black clouds quickly moving our way and before we knew it they were on top of us.  So here we are on top of the mountain with wind gusts of 50mph and then the rain comes.  With nowhere to go, we hunker down in our brush pile as the sideways rain kicks in.  Once thoroughly soaked we decided to make a dash (or slide) down the muddy trail - while being pelted with rain bullets.

We made it to the bottom to find the rest of our team huddled up at the Ranch house.  They made a run for it from the school playground, but were likewise pretty wet.  All in all a great team bonding experience.  And even being on top of the mountain in a pretty scary scenario, none of us experienced fear.  Despite seeing God flex His muscle, we rested confidently in His care.

So needless to say, the bus ride was a bit musty smelling and chilly as we road back to the compound.  It took all of us a good while to get all the mud off and dinner never tasted so good!  At our team time tonight we looked at intimacy through God's love... how His love for us is the foundation of our relationship and the conduit for intimacy with Him.

God is working - growing and stretching us in many ways.  I've been excited to watch our students work, play and engage with each other and those in the community.  God's love is shining brightly through and we pray we are making a Gospel impact!