More Trip to Canada Stuff
I just got an email from one of the people who I went to Canada with. I thought it was really good, to be able to see his perspective and let all my readers know more of what we did. This is from Colin Wood...
What is a mission trip, you may be asking? Good question. I have to be careful how I phrase this because when one says the word mission, images of young men in suits going door to door (i.e. Mormons) often comes to mind.
Our mission trip was different than that. I joined with a group of students from a local community college. The group, called Baptist Student Ministries, is part of a network of Baptist college ministries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. One of the highlights of being involved in BSM is their missions emphasis, and spring break is often an excellent time to plan a mission trip.
Really, I am hesitant to use the term mission trip, because although I believe in missions, as codified by our Lord in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20, the idea of going somewhere else can sometimes distract us from the fact that "missions exists where worship doesn't" (John Piper). And that is anywhere in the world where people do not follow Jesus.
Whatever you call it, we did go to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a week. And we were all stretched and challenged while we were there. It was especially interesting coming back to the area - not as a student at Trinity Western University, but as a college graduate.
Our primary purpose was to publicize an Easter worship service at a church on Simon Fraser University. The campus is like most public universities in North America - full of people who are living for themselves, grappling with using and abusing their new status as young adults. Add to this the fact that Vancouver is a highly multicultural and pluralistic community, and you get quite a mix - a veritable cacaphony of spiritual voices trying to sell their wares to the unitiated.
The Point Church was planted several years ago as a way to establish a Christian beachhead at SFU. There are other Christian groups meeting on campus, but The Point is the first church located right on the campus.
So, we were challenged with the following tasks:
And I was stretched. I do NOT like going up to strangers and giving them advertising material. This was a diifcult task, and I can't say it would be any easier next time. However, I enjoyed several conversations that I was able to carry on with people. Above all, I was reminded that all we were supposed to do is plant the seeds - only the Holy Spirit can turn a longing heart God-ward.
I was also reminded of the importance of relationships - two friends talking about spiritual things, one friend inviting another to a church service, one friend praying for another, or one friend simply walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" with another.
And you don't have to go somewhere else to be a friend.
Our second ministry was to the down-and-outers of Vancouver. In case you are not familiar with Vancouver, there is one particular area just east of downtown that is a notorious drug and prostitution haven - called the Downtown Eastside. We worked with a ministry called LifeLine, giving out free food and clothes, and talking with people who are going through hard times. Let me tell you, you could go there every night and just scratch the surface of need.
I was reminded of how Christians sometimes feel particularly needed in these areas - because the needs and sins of humanity are open sores, displayed for all passers-by to see. Our ministry to these communities is good and right. Yet is it not also the case that our own communities are full of need - maybe not open sores, but nagging itches or benign tumours? Lord, give us the spiritual eyes to see the needs around us. Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision and I believe also Samaritan's Purse, said, "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God." Can that be said of us?
And you don't have to go somewhere else to see needs.
Our third ministry was prayerwalking in downtown Vancouver. Prayerwalking is both easy and difficult - easy because it's really just praying and walking - difficult because it's intentional. You pray for specific people you see passing by, for various institutions, for the attitudes that may prevail in the area, and so on. It also means asking God to show you where He is working, and then joining Him in those things. My group prayerwalked around the downtown campus of University of British Columbia. We talked to a security guard there, to a sidewalk artist (who called himself a shaman), and a guy who perhaps was homeless. And again, I was reminded by how prayerwalking can be done anywhere, not just somewhere else.
We also had the opportunity to visit two other places of worship - a Buddhist temple and a Sikh cultural centre. The Buddhist place reminded me that I serve a personal, relational God - not just a God who's somewhere else. The Sikh place reminded me that Christianity is not just a throwback to a different era, or a gathering place for people who share a similar ethnic heritage - it is about redemption and discipleship. But we certainly learned a valuable lesson in hospitality - would you believe, the Sikhs would have been offended if we had not taken their gifts of food!
Another aspect of this experience that I appreciated was that I was able to get to know some other folks my age. I went with a group of about 25 people, some of whom I already knew, but many whom I got to know for the first time. I was able to encourage others while at the same time be encouraged by others. One of the best parts about being young is that we love to talk about solving the problems of the world, and one of the worst parts about being young is that one can too easily become disenchanted by the problems of the world. That's why I am strengthened by the imminent return of Jesus Christ: there is hope that is found in something beyond our own efforts and ideals. It should motivate to keep striving, not give up in discouragement.
So, what did I learn from this mission trip?
I learned that missions is both challenging and rewarding.
I was reminded that Christians and all people are meant for community, vertically with God and horizontally with other people.
I learned that the main characteristics of a missionary are faithfulness, availability, and teachability.
And I am learning that I must seek the Lord with all my heart (Jeremiah 29:13) because I will find Him working around me, whether at church, at home, at work, or at play.
What is a mission trip, you may be asking? Good question. I have to be careful how I phrase this because when one says the word mission, images of young men in suits going door to door (i.e. Mormons) often comes to mind.
Our mission trip was different than that. I joined with a group of students from a local community college. The group, called Baptist Student Ministries, is part of a network of Baptist college ministries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. One of the highlights of being involved in BSM is their missions emphasis, and spring break is often an excellent time to plan a mission trip.
Really, I am hesitant to use the term mission trip, because although I believe in missions, as codified by our Lord in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20, the idea of going somewhere else can sometimes distract us from the fact that "missions exists where worship doesn't" (John Piper). And that is anywhere in the world where people do not follow Jesus.
Whatever you call it, we did go to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for a week. And we were all stretched and challenged while we were there. It was especially interesting coming back to the area - not as a student at Trinity Western University, but as a college graduate.
Our primary purpose was to publicize an Easter worship service at a church on Simon Fraser University. The campus is like most public universities in North America - full of people who are living for themselves, grappling with using and abusing their new status as young adults. Add to this the fact that Vancouver is a highly multicultural and pluralistic community, and you get quite a mix - a veritable cacaphony of spiritual voices trying to sell their wares to the unitiated.
The Point Church was planted several years ago as a way to establish a Christian beachhead at SFU. There are other Christian groups meeting on campus, but The Point is the first church located right on the campus.
So, we were challenged with the following tasks:
- Handing out hundreds of postcards advertising the church
- Surveying the campus population to find out what they believe about Easter and church
- Giving out free Atkins candy bars
- Just talking with people
And I was stretched. I do NOT like going up to strangers and giving them advertising material. This was a diifcult task, and I can't say it would be any easier next time. However, I enjoyed several conversations that I was able to carry on with people. Above all, I was reminded that all we were supposed to do is plant the seeds - only the Holy Spirit can turn a longing heart God-ward.
I was also reminded of the importance of relationships - two friends talking about spiritual things, one friend inviting another to a church service, one friend praying for another, or one friend simply walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" with another.
And you don't have to go somewhere else to be a friend.
Our second ministry was to the down-and-outers of Vancouver. In case you are not familiar with Vancouver, there is one particular area just east of downtown that is a notorious drug and prostitution haven - called the Downtown Eastside. We worked with a ministry called LifeLine, giving out free food and clothes, and talking with people who are going through hard times. Let me tell you, you could go there every night and just scratch the surface of need.
I was reminded of how Christians sometimes feel particularly needed in these areas - because the needs and sins of humanity are open sores, displayed for all passers-by to see. Our ministry to these communities is good and right. Yet is it not also the case that our own communities are full of need - maybe not open sores, but nagging itches or benign tumours? Lord, give us the spiritual eyes to see the needs around us. Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision and I believe also Samaritan's Purse, said, "Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God." Can that be said of us?
And you don't have to go somewhere else to see needs.
Our third ministry was prayerwalking in downtown Vancouver. Prayerwalking is both easy and difficult - easy because it's really just praying and walking - difficult because it's intentional. You pray for specific people you see passing by, for various institutions, for the attitudes that may prevail in the area, and so on. It also means asking God to show you where He is working, and then joining Him in those things. My group prayerwalked around the downtown campus of University of British Columbia. We talked to a security guard there, to a sidewalk artist (who called himself a shaman), and a guy who perhaps was homeless. And again, I was reminded by how prayerwalking can be done anywhere, not just somewhere else.
We also had the opportunity to visit two other places of worship - a Buddhist temple and a Sikh cultural centre. The Buddhist place reminded me that I serve a personal, relational God - not just a God who's somewhere else. The Sikh place reminded me that Christianity is not just a throwback to a different era, or a gathering place for people who share a similar ethnic heritage - it is about redemption and discipleship. But we certainly learned a valuable lesson in hospitality - would you believe, the Sikhs would have been offended if we had not taken their gifts of food!
Another aspect of this experience that I appreciated was that I was able to get to know some other folks my age. I went with a group of about 25 people, some of whom I already knew, but many whom I got to know for the first time. I was able to encourage others while at the same time be encouraged by others. One of the best parts about being young is that we love to talk about solving the problems of the world, and one of the worst parts about being young is that one can too easily become disenchanted by the problems of the world. That's why I am strengthened by the imminent return of Jesus Christ: there is hope that is found in something beyond our own efforts and ideals. It should motivate to keep striving, not give up in discouragement.
So, what did I learn from this mission trip?
I learned that missions is both challenging and rewarding.
I was reminded that Christians and all people are meant for community, vertically with God and horizontally with other people.
I learned that the main characteristics of a missionary are faithfulness, availability, and teachability.
And I am learning that I must seek the Lord with all my heart (Jeremiah 29:13) because I will find Him working around me, whether at church, at home, at work, or at play.
posted by Jacob at
8:26 PM
