There is no comparison to the spiritual blessing and transformation that each participant receives by serving in everyday mission, or by going on a short-term mission trip. We call this blessing "reciprocal mission," for when we go to become a blessing, we become blessed.
Ever since the beginning of the Church (the global body of Christ) in the 1st century, some believers have downplayed the benefits of everyday mission or short-term missions by choosing to focus only on the fact that we are saved by grace. Yet, Jesus has called each of us to mission as a primary act of grace and love in Acts 1:8: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We are saved by grace to do good deeds as a demonstration of the same grace and love given to us in Jesus Christ.
His mission is the reason we exist. Complete surrender to, obedience to, and dependence upon Christ alone brings God the glory that is His alone. We have witnessed the following on foreign short-term and in everyday mission:
Benefits of Mission...for both participants and recipients:
Mission teaches participants the biblical gospel, where Jesus Christ is Lord of all, not simply a “cultural savior.” Mission expands Christian and biblical worldview beyond the context of a comfortable setting or culture.
Mission makes a connection with the global body of Christ, sharing reciprocally in communion with His love and grace.
Mission takes the gospel message of redemption, reconciliation and love into another culture to those who may have never heard the gospel, and to those who may have rejected the gospel or have hidden behind contemporary culture.
Mission delivers much needed resources to Christian global ministries, as well as to the body of Christ.
Mission engages participants in their home culture, congregation and in the world with the identity of “everyday missionaries,” who are sent into the world regardless of vocation, with the provision of the biblical gospel, and with their God-given spiritual gifts and experiences.
Most importantly, as Christ followers, mission is the primary reason we exist, it is the purpose of our life in Christ.
