introduction
So far we have thought about how you can be involved in world mission while on campus. But what about going overseas now? What are the possibilities. Find out (preferably in advance) if anyone in your small group has done a short-term mission programme. If not, try to find someone who has. Ask them to talk about it with your group for a few minutes.
welcome
Have you ever been in a very different culture to your own? What did it feel like?
worship
Use the natural beauty of creation to focus on, and worship God, and be listening to him speak. e.g. Look at the stars or bring in some leaves or flowers to focus on.
read
word
Being a missionary used to be about making a career decision for life. But it’s becoming increasingly possible to get involved in world mission, not just in the UK (e.g. with international students – remember them) but also overseas. However, is this ‘real’ mission or is it just ‘playing’ at being a missionary?
Look at the following passages.
read
Matthew 6:10, 7:21-23, 21:28-31
question
What is the common theme?
The important point in the above passages is that following Christ is about what you DO, not just about what you BELIEVE.
read
Matthew 5:6-10, 5:20, 6:33, 25:31-46
question
What’s the common theme here?
Righteousness. This is something both spiritual and practical. It means having a right relationship with God, AND having a right relationship with other people.
question
So what has this got to do with short-term mission?
application
Our starting point must be that following Christ, which includes making disciples of all nations, is not a one-off activity that we do for a month or two. It’s a lifestyle commitment. Having said that, short-term mission programmes give you the opportunity to focus, to build on experiences and to develop proper attitudes in your whole life.
Another website you might want to try is www.globalconnections.org.uk/vocations. They have a list of over 100 organisations which run short-term mission programmes.
There is a Code of Best Practice in Short-Term Mission, to which over 50 organisations have signed up. For more information, and links to their websites, visit www.globalconnections.org.uk/guidelines/short-term-mission-code-of-best-practice
It might be worth checking out the sites in advance of the small group meeting and printing out some of the information for people to look at.
You may have members of your small group who are going on a short-term mission programme soon. If so, take this opportunity to pray for one another.
witness
Take some serious time now to pray and ask God to show you where and how he wants you to be involved in world mission, both as individuals and as a small group. It’s not something you have to wait to do. There are loads of possibilities before you now.
