Tonight, I was standing getting to worship God not only with thousands of my college peers but in the same row with people from Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, and Taiwan.  God is just so awesome!  It didn’t hit me until mid song that there were so many different nationalities around me but it was so moving to see how we were all there with the single  purpose of glorifying the creator of the universe.  It wasn’t manufactured at all.  There was no human who brought us all to that moment.  It was just God.  There wasn’t some sermon about missions or how this would be a glimpse of heaven that followed because that moment was totally organic.  I love how God speaks in such little ways sometimes!

http://www.thetravelingteam.org/articles/passion-souls 

First: Do you know the biblical basis for missions?

If someone asked you, what would you say?  Would you have an answer? I don’t just mean the great commission in Matthew 28.  I mean do you really know God’s heart behind missions?  I am in a generation that is full of people wanting and ready to go share Christ’s love and thats so awesome!  But do we really know why?  Do you know those verses by heart?  I have been challenged in the past few weeks to work on this.  I mean, I’m passionate about missions and believe it’s a call God has put on all of his believers, but do I really understand how much he loves the nations?  So, recently I’ve been listening to different sermons and going through a bible study about God’s heart for the nations.  It makes me that much more excited about missions!  To see how from Genesis to Revelation he reveals his glorious plan to reach peoples of every tribe, tongue, and nation.  There isn’t just one great commission in Matthew.  There is one in each of the gospels.  Don’t just be comfortable in accepting that God loves missions and so should you.  Get to know why and memorize it.  This has been so encouraging to me and I hope it is to anyone who looks into this.  I would challenge anyone who has been on a missions trip, thinks about going on a trip, or if you believe in the Bible at all to really get to know the biblical basis for missions. 

Second:  Get to know the biblical basis for missions and then go!  God calls all of his believers to reach others with the great love that he has shown us.  Don’t think that all of those missionaries out in the world today received a letter in the mail from God saying “Yes, I call you to go to Africa! You should go in August of 2013.”  God calls us all to missions but most of the time you won’t receive some obvious sign.  Be in constant prayer and have faith.  It’s a lot easier to steer something that is already moving. And yes, you can be missional here in America.  There is absolutely a need. But God has HUGE heart for reaching EVERYONE in EVERY place.  Don’t believe the lie that you aren’t called or that you aren’t good enough to be a missionary because God uses the broken and weak.  This summer I had the most spiritual growth and healing I’ve ever had and I do believe it’s because I gave up trying to control everything and let God fill those spaces.  God was able to use me in situations I would’ve never thought possible.  College is a crazy time but I would challenge every college student to take one summer and give it to God through missions in another country.  You won’t always have the freedom and flexibility to up and leave for a few months.  

Third: So, let’s say you want to do something now and here!  Well, here’s 5 habits of a world minded Christian to keep you in the missionary mindset.  These are from the Traveling Team, you should check it out, their website is below.  1) Go! I’ve already talked enough about this one. 2) Reaching internationals: Guess what? There are sooo many international students on college campuses and all over the US.  If you think you want to live overseas and help people you should start now!  Your life here shouldn’t have different standards than the one you expect to lead over there.  Get involved with people who believe in different religions, help them adjust to America, show them Christ’s love!  3) Giving: Help support your friends or family members who are overseas.  Even if it’s just a little, that can go a long way!  4) PRAY: This is absolutely the most important part in my opinion!  I’ve experienced the power of prayer in another country and just knowing people are praying for you and your team is so encouraging! Get a map and pray for somewhere new each day!  5) Mobilize: Help others go!  Share your experiences and passions and get others excited about what God is doing in the world!

I am super passionate about this and would love to talk to anyone about it.  Text me, call me, skype me, or we can get old fashioned and have coffee (which I like best).  These things have just been on my heart lately and I wanted to put them into words.  Here are some awesome links that I found super helpful.  

Biblical basis for missions:http://vimeo.com/32167625 

Stats and 5 habits: http://www.thetravelingteam.org/stats 

Pioneers: The group I went with last summer: http://www.pioneers.org/edge/ 

I want to take the Business changing the world track. 

I want to see some of my far away team mates.

It’s so expensive though!  Maybe $400 will just show up in my bank account tomorrow… 

I’m seriously so sad right now :’(  

totally-relatable:

I just want to think about and reflect on this past week but I have a test tomorrow and at least 4 hours of homework left.  Blahhh

:’(  

Tonight was super interesting though and I am so excited to see what God has in store for this friendship.