Missionaries in America

11 members of Harbor Church recently attended Equipped For Mission, the Newfrontiers USA leadership conference in St Louis.  It was a great time and on the final day, we prayed for many new initiatives that have gotten underway, including for Ralph and the team that are hoping to go to Beirut.

Whenever I hear Ralph speak about going and serving overseas, I start to dream what life would be like for me and my family.  We’d probably take any opportunity we could find to have our neighbors over for a meal.  I would probably pray a lot every morning for divine appointments and for God to speak to me.  I would likely spend a lot more time reading my bible so I would be confident in the gospel and be able to share it with those that don’t know it.  I know that in every relationship I formed, I would be looking for ways to share the gospel with them.  I’m sure there are many aspects of my life that would change - I would be a missionary and I would live like one too!

What is a missionary?

The strange thing is, every Christian is a missionary whether they live in the Middle East or in middle America. Paul said that we are ambassadors for Christ that that God uses us to spread the fragrance of his grace to people around us! (2 Corinthians 2:15)  What is true of my “missionary life” overseas ought to be true of my missionary life here in Portsmouth.

This really challenges me.  New Hampshire is the least churched state in the third largest mission field in the world - strange but true.  If anyone needs to live a missionary lifestyle, it is us at Harbor Church!  There is a lost and dying world out there that is in desperate need of the gospel.  It’s not just “those people overseas” that need the gospel; our neighbors, family members, co-workers, gym-mates and fellow students that need to hear about Jesus.

Why don’t I always live like that, then?  Is it because I grew up here?  Have I been dulled by the darkness around me?  Or have I lost a sense of expectation for the supernatural to happen naturally in my everyday life?  Whatever it is, I believe God is calling me and each of us to shift gears, knowing that the days are evil and there are lost people that need to know their God.

Changing gears

Coming back from this conference, I have a fresh resolve to stand with wartime footing.  Each day is a battle.  It starts with a  battle in my personal life - to love and honor Jesus when no one else is looking.  But the other battle is the battle in the public.  Day by day we are walking with people that are blinded by the spirit of this age and don’t know the truth of God.  It is our calling as a church to humbly, lovingly, sacrificially, and passionately tell them about the humble King who lovingly, sacrificially, passionately laid down his life for them.  He died so that everyone who lives in darkness might find freedom in the light of his love and grace.

Today, you are going to a mission field.  Start today by thanking God that he has empowered you for this mission and then pray earnestly that God would speak to you and use you as a powerful weapon in His hand.  Let’s speak with great truth and love.

What are some examples of ways you live like a missionary that we can start doing today?  Leave comments below!