Another twist on missions

Have you been on any good mission trips lately?  I'm wondering how many of today's Christians have been involved in mission activities.  I can remember when the mere mention was made of the local congregation's mission activities, people would shy away the conversation, thinking if they acted excited about mission work, they would be shipped to Africa.  While there is not anything wrong with going to Africa to be involved in the Lord's work, there isn't anything wrong with going next door to witness for God, either. 

Back in the 1980's I remember reading an article in a monthly Christian journal, and one of the professors of a Christian University made the statement, "I can sense our churches feel absolved of any mission related responsibilities if they just send checks for $100 to several foreign missions every month.  Again, I must shoulder some of the financial support for missions in foreign countries, but that does not remove the need for me to be involved in spreading the good news of the gospel in the place where I live. 

One pastor tells the story of his home church involving a youth group in a worthwhile mission project in the poorer section of the town where they lived.  They were involved in making home repairs, painting fences, removing dead trees, and other similar jobs.  The intent of the project was to work alongside the residents, mingling with them and learning new friendships.  That isn't a bad plan.  Lots of work projects were completed and lots of friendships were made.  Some of the residents they worked for and with, attended the worship services of the church on the following Sunday. 

It wasn't long before none of the project-assisted-residents were coming to church at all.  Meetings were held and discussions were made to find out why.  There is something else you should know.  All of the residents which were helped in the mission project were Hispanic.  Some local Hispanic students from a local university agreed to go visit the families, and report their findings to the church leaders.

The people who had been helped with the repair projects were very thankful and gracious for the kindness of the church folks.  The only problem was, they couldn't speak English to tell them. They had visited the services of the church but did not understand a word from the sermon, nor any of the songs, not even the prayers.  Their children, who did understand English, were overly jealous of the church kids who showed up with their iPhones, complete with earphones, resulting in virtually no interaction between the young folks. The hardest to handle of all the findings was the statement from one of the Hispanic youths which told of his feelings of being outclassed.  

So, as we said, lots of projects were completed and home repairs were made, but instead of cultivating relationships, stronger barriers resulted.  The message for us is simple, yet rarely present.  Yes, those houses needed repair, but those hearts needed Jesus, too.  No matter how much good we do in mission projects, all is in vain if we do not reflect the Spirit of Jesus to the people we help.  We can tell them God loves them, but we must never forget to demonstrate God's love overflowing from our hearts to theirs. 

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