Missed Opportunities

Quite often when we think of the mission field, we tend to think that we need to be the great evangelist/missionaries of yester-year. We rationalize to ourselves or others that the Lord has not called us because we are not the Taylors, Livingstons, Moodys, or Grahms of the world. We argue that we don't have the fortitude for missions like an Elliot or a Staines. While doing all of this we miss the obvious -- opportunities for mission that God has placed right in front of us. Opportunities that rarely require us to speak at all. We miss the everyday opportunities to evangelize through acts of kindness, service, and love. We fail to take the time to play with our children. We don't stop to listen to a co-worker or neighbor who's having a rough time. We don't don't offer a helping hand with a non-Christian spouse who is cleaning the house. These opportunities are all around us. We don't always have to go to the "field" to be a missionary, quite often the "field" comes to us. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of the greatest act of love in the history of the world!

CAMPING FOR CHRIST

Often times in the world of Missions there are two camps. Those who define missional work as those events and activities taking place in and around their own community, or what I like to describe as the "Jerusalem" camp. The other camp are those who view this type of work as local evangelism and tend to focus more on the global community -- the "ends of the earth" camp. Are these two camps incorrect in their thinking? Well no, and yes. You see, traditionally, the commission of Christ to go into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, has often been viewed as a linear command, i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. This way of thinking often causes a conflict between the groups mentioned earlier because it prioritize the "mission field" in a chronological order. A second view of this commission has traditionally split the camps above into "my job" vs. "your job" roles. Either way the conflict still exists. And what shall we say about the middle of the road, the "Samarian" camp? This has its own unique issues. The missional community can continue to be divided on this issue, or we can recognize that as the Church we are called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ -- using whatever gits and talents HE has euipped us with to whomever he brings into our sphere of influence. If Christ has only equipped a church with the gifts to minister to people just like them in the community -- great! They should do that. If HE has equipped them only to minister to people in their community not like them great! They should do that. If HE has equipped them only to minster to people not like them and not in their own community -- great! They should do that. And for those rare few -- if HE has equipped them to minister to all at the same time -- even better! They should do that.

Happy Camping!

chris

CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE

MCCC MISSIONS WANTS YOU!

Come join in Mt. Carmel Christian Church's "Celebration of Discipline" -- A course on spiritual disciplines beginning Wednesday September 16, 2009 at 7:00pm. You may come early for a good meal at a great price. This class is ideal for those wishing to grow further in their faith and in their leadership potential. Class runs through 11/4. For more details contact me via e-mail at cvanhuss_@hotmail.com

Grace and Peace

chris

Sunset -- "Son"rise

As I was driving home tonight I saw a beautiful sunset. Red-orange sphere highlighting clouds with streams of gold, red, and purple hue coming forth. Then all of a sudden I came to an intersection and a traffic pole blocked my view of the sunset. This got me thinking, what kinds of "poles" block my view of God's Son Jesus? Is the Son rising or setting in my life on a daily basis? What about people around the world? How can I allow them to see the "Son"rise and not the "Son"set?

On another the note, the website for Mid-India has been updated, check it out.

Grace and Peace

Some Recent Happenings

Praise be to our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus! He has made the following possible:

1) The missions team has been able to assists individuals hoping to go to Romania, and Chicago for short-term trips. We also provided help to a family from Zimbabwe now living here in the U.S.

2) CRAM has a new team member. "Thomas" has joined the ranks of this great ministry. We were able to assist with the "Jacob" fund. Also "Gabriel's" flashlights are providing a new way to share the Light of the World in NK.

3) Our friends with PBT our finally residents in Vanuatu. Pray they received their work permits.

4) Our partners in Southwest India hosted a VBS for over 1500 students. Also God has added to their numbers in both people and physical structures.

5) Our friends from PCES will be visiting with us in November. I will be representing them in Owensville in October. Pray for me and pray for the persecuted church in Pakistan.

6) Work continues on the school in Haiti with our partners at Living Water.

7) We hope to strengthen the ministry efforts of Mid-India through capital campaign contributions.

8) Our friends in Italy and Albania hosted a wonderful VBS for children in Albania.

9) We continue to experience success in our efforts to plan for a visit to the Ukraine in 2010.

10) God has provided many educational opportunities for his people at Mt. Carmel. The National Missionary Convention is in November. Urban Missions Conference in December. Perspectives Classes this fall and spring. Lake James Mission Camp in July of next year.

11) Individuals hoping to get involved in missions locally at Mt. Carmel may do so through a Samaritan's Purse outreach, person to person ministries, and by becoming a missionary partnership champion. Contact me for more information about any of these.

You said what? -- The problem with global communication.

Recent events in missions at Mt. Carmel have made me realize how terribly important communication and understanding of culture is. When communicating with those from a different culture let me offer a few random thoughts:

1) Try to anticipate potential delays in reply. The person with whom you are communicating may not always get/give you a reply in the time frame you think is acceptable.

2) Recognize that honesty is still the best policy. Rather than try to alter your original comments, admit what you said and then work to explain.

3) Speak the truth in love. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS!

4) Don't be afraid of confrontation. That which seems confrontational may in fact be a search for clarity, or may be necessary.

5.) Speak with humilty and extend grace whenever possible. Remember we all say things from time to time we shouldn't or wish we hadn't said.