“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14a. Short-term missions only makes sense when it’s connected to long-term indigenous ministry. Sam Ingrassia, our e3 Partners campaign leader this week, drove that point home to us.
To illustrate this point, essentially what we have done this week has been to light a match. A match burns, serving its purpose, for only a short time. But when that match is used to light a candle that can in turn light another candle … and another candle … and another …
Picture (Click to enlarge) was taken in the Hungarian Reformed Church in Timisoara. Courtesy of Bill DeFord.
1 comment:
It has been a blessed week, Praise God for the ways He has worked in and through each one of us!!
We have each been stretched out of our comfort zones. For some of us it was the physical environment and for some of us it was the emotional stretching that caused the most growth. I dare say none of us came back the same person we were when we left, which is as it should be. We shared much laughter as well as many tears during this past week as we shared our lives with others in Romania, with both Romanians as well as other North Americans. The world has become much smaller as we discovered we are all more alike than we are different.
Thank you so much for your support that helped make this adventure possible- to those who sacrificed financially, to the many prayer warriors, to those who played a vital support role taking card of young children so other could go. Please know your contribution is greatly apprectiated!
We are all called to be missionaries, the way we serve often changes as our seasons of life change. May you embrace where you are in your life and know deep in your heart that God wants to use your mightly right where you are. I pray that you continue to grow in your love of God and love of others as God challenges you. For some it may be going on future mission trips, for some it may be giving financially, for some it may be serving in the role of a prayer warrior,and for some it may be supporting a spouse to go as you raise young children in a home that models loving God and loving others. It could also be any combination of these things.In each case, I pray you know you are very valuable in the advancement of the Kingdom of God as you follow His will.
As for me, I pray that I am used daily to reflect the love of Christ and attract people to want to know HIM!! I pray it is God's will to open doors tath I may go on many more trips overseas to bring hope to the lost!!
May you surreneder to God and allow Him to use you as HE Chooses!! There is no safer or more blessed place to be!
Pace (Peace)
Joan Pike
BLESSINGS!
Joan Pike
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