According to a survey by Barna Institute, spiritual growth is important to tens of millions of people. Christians reported a wide range of activities to promote growth: participating in a small group, doing Bible studies, and meeting with spiritual mentors. On the same survey, however, 60% of Christians also noted that their growth has been…
Missions
Who then do we serve?
A critical expression of faith is serving others. No, we do not serve to earn the Lord’s favor. Nor do we serve out of obligation and guilt for what the Lord has done for us. We serve out of the abundance of God’s presence in our life. Caring for the needs of others then becomes…
City Park Clean-up
It did not sound controversial. We had come to serve. For some people, though, this is a story of what-not-to-do. For several years our church came alongside a ministry in inner city Philadelphia. One summer they asked our group of teens and adults to clean up a city-block sized concrete park. They sensed the Lord…
A New Missions Conversation
Today launches a new multi-faceted conversation. It’s a discussion about how we live our lives as Christ-followers and how we invite others to join the journey. Pouring my experience and research into 193 pages, I worked with InterVarsity Press to publish a new book on missions and the church. Now available through Amazon, InterVarsity Press,…
What is in a Name?
I dug the permanent markers and the “My Name Is” adhesive nametags out of my backpack. We had packed them for our mission team members. Our outreach was well underway in Zambia, Africa. We were serving at an orphanage for disabled children. Their stories are heart-breaking. In the middle of the night, under the cover of…
Launch of Mapping Church Missions
After years of pondering and writing and editing and writing some more, I’m thrilled to share that my book is out of my brain and onto paper. Over a year ago, I signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to write a book about the church and missions. I’m thrilled to share that we are fast…
Ministry of Presence
I just returned from one of the richest places on the planet. Guatemala. Their abundance in relationships and hospitality rival even the wealthiest of nations. It’s this richness that draws me to return time and time again. For sure, Guatemala has many material needs. Amidst this poverty, however, I continually find a spirit of generosity….
Goal of Missions (Part 3)
In the past several posts, we have been laying the biblical foundations for missions. The first reason we serve is to glorify God. The second reason is to obey Christ’s calling. This post explores the final principle for our missional engagement. The third purpose for missions is to meet the needs of others. We Serve…
Real Goal of Missions (Part 2)
What principles serve as guidance for missions? People describe the church’s purpose for engagement in a wide range of definitions. A review of Scripture helps us discover foundational principles for missions. It reveals three ways Christian mission differs from random acts of kindness. Last week’s post highlighted the first principle: We serve to glorify God. Our…
Beyond feel-good feelings: The real goal of missions
Why do we serve? How does Christ-centered outreach differ from today’s pay-it-forward, random-act-of-kindness culture? What is Christian mission? The global church willingly gives millions of hours and dollars every year in the name of missions and outreach. We serve in the far corners of the planet and in local schools. We teach English as a…
