The Mission - GO

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to the airport and "see off" a Greek missionary couple on their way to Sri Lanka. It was such a blessing to chat with Ritza and Michaelis and reminisce the special send off my church family gave me right before I came to Greece just a short time ago. Ritza and I encouraged one another with a hug and the simple gift of mutual understanding for what this "packing up, leaving home, and saying good-bye" stuff feels like.

This was an extra special moment for all of those gathered at the Athens airport, because it is not exactly common or popular for Greeks to leave for a long-term mission service assignment. Praise the Lord for the supportive parents and church family of Ritza and Michaelis! In fact, my fellow HM staff explained to me that the last family who did this was our founder, Costas Macris, and his wife, Alky. Alky was a part of the group gathered to send off Ritza and Michaelis with prayers and blessings, and needless to say it was an emotional time. Johnathan, Costas and Alky's son and current president of HM, shared the vision with our staff that we will start wearing out the path to the airport because we will travel it so much to send off more and more Greek missionaries to serve God all over the world. This couple had actually met and been encouraged towards mission during their participation in a summer sports camp out at HM's waterfront property, Porto Astro. I pray God will continue to use this blessed location to disciple and mentor the Greek young people towards mission!

And why "mission?" Why GO? Why leave home? Why serve God in a different country? As you might guess, I have asked myself these questions often, and I have had some great discussions about these things with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I mean, on the one hand, we are ALL called to be lifelong "missionaries" no matter what context we are in... far or near from home, no matter what our job title. So why not stay near home and use the gifts God has given me there, because no doubt there is plenty of need there too! Well, to be quite honest, as I cried out to God that he would lead me and give me the courage and strength to follow his good, BEST plans for my life... I had no other option but to leave all of my securities and familiarities behind me, and GO somewhere new. I was praying for less attachment to my possessions and comforts, and more reliance on God alone for my every need. I was praying for God to help me trust him with each and every life decision, big or small. I was praying for clarity in the good, BEST ways to encourage my friends and family members with what God was doing in my life...

And I couldn't have asked for a better assignment than this mission field abroad. There is so much more to share with you on this subject, so I will make it my goal to keep discussing these thoughts in more regular blog posts.

Jesus told us: GO, and make disciples of all nations... baptize and teach them all that I have commanded you. Invite them into this way of life. I will be with you as you do this, day after day after day...until the end of the age.

He also said,
"Come, follow me." And they left behind everything...

He also said,
"Go out two by two, and take nothing for your journey..." And they did this and they lacked nothing.

He also said much, much, more... ;) I'm reading through Luke right now. It is one of my favorite books, and it has been so encouraging to remind myself of the perfect life of obedience to God that Jesus models for us. These couple verses at the end of chapter 4 especially hit me this week:
(I'm reading in three different translations simultaneously right now... but I want to post the Message paraphrase for you...)
"He left the next day for open country. But the crowds went looking and, when they found him, clung to him so he couldn't go on. He told them, 'Don't you realize that there are yet other villages where I have to tell the Message of God's kingdom, that this is the work God sent me to do?'"

This is also the chapter where he talks about a prophet not being welcome in his own town. And... anyway, I just found it interesting that Jesus couldn't just stay and keep his Good News Message in one place, but he was called to GO elsewhere and keep spreading the Word. The people were mobbing him and distracting him and clinging to him - his physical presence - too tightly when he stayed in one place...

What do you think about all this?

I pray God fills you up with strength and courage to listen and follow his call for your life. Where is he telling you to go today? What is he telling you to do? May we NOT get too easily distracted by our own plans and ambitions. It is challenging to keep focused on our one and only goal, Jesus Christ... and running after him with all we've got. :) But oh what glorious reward when we do!!! :D Thank you, Jesus, for your presence so near in my life, as you're helping me be obedient to your call and keep throwing off everything that hinders. Please empower all of my brothers and sisters, from America, Greece, and ALL over this world... to keep their FOCUS on you... and their ears in TUNE to your glorious redemption symphony.