Take a Marketplace Mission Trip
I remember all the pressure. Everybody expects you to go on a short-term mission trip overseas. From the time Martha and I joined our first church as a couple until today, everybody, or almost everybody, thinks the epitome of the Christian experience is best expressed through traveling overseas and ministering for a week or two to a foreign people group. And maybe we do this every year. Now, there are many reasons to go on short-term mission trips overseas. One of them may be preparations for a long-term placement overseas. However, this is not the epitome of the Christian experience for most of us who are operating in our workplaces outside of the four walls of the church. That experience is epitomized by preparing our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our strength for going to our daily mission field – which is our workplace.
I define a mission field as a place where there are lost and hopeless people who need to meet Jesus. These people don’t regularly attend church or don’t have or want access to materials, media, or conversations where they could learn how to become a Jesus follower.
I will tell you this: I never wanted to go overseas on a short-term mission trip. I kept arguing, and I did this for decades. Why should we spend a whole bunch of time and money ministering to people across the world who we will only meet once when we could actually minister to people right here in my own state or my own country? I now understand so much more. There is value in all mission trips to somewhere outside your comfort zone to minister to people you don't know. It doesn't have to be overseas, but getting out of your comfort zone is good.
Speaking of comfort zones, how about the place you go to work every day? This is a place where you already know everyone’s name, and you're familiar with the culture. You know how to move within your organization's different cultural circles. You don't need to prepare to speak a foreign language, wear different clothing, or eat different foods. You already have all that stuff down pat. The one thing you do need to do is prepare your heart, mind, soul, and strength for the paradigm shift that your work matters to God, and it is, in fact, your place of ministry – your mission field.
To be honest, I didn't have this realization until I was 40 years old. I always thought of work as work and church as church. They had nothing to do with each other. It's kind of embarrassing to admit today, but I'm being honest with you. I thought my work didn't matter to God because I was an insurance agent and sold used cars. When, at 40, I realized that God loved my work and He specifically equipped me to be a very good insurance agent and a good used car sales guy, I began to thrive in my ministry place at work. What did it take to shift my paradigm from looking at work as something just necessary that I had to do to an incredible place filled with people who need to meet Jesus, who need to benefit from my expertise, knowledge, spirit, and wisdom? It took a shift in my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I had to realize that God needed me to love my neighbor at work.
What if we prepared ourselves for the workplace mission field together? Please join Martha and me on our upcoming Marketplace Mission Trip led by Follower of One. Walk alongside us and prepare for your workplace mission field. See you in November!
TAKE THIS TOPIC FURTHER:
Listen to or watch show 2008: No Suitcase? No Fundraising? No Problem!
Subscribe to the daily iWork4Him PowerThoughts
About the Author, Jim Brangenberg
Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!