Why Do We Offer Urban Mission Trips?
In Acts 1:8, God commanded us all to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth". The inner cities of America are the Samaria's of today. Just like Samaria during the Bible times, our inner cities are filled with ethnic strife and spiritual darkness. Many people avoid driving through the inner city while going to a sports game or other activities, just the way the Jews would deliberately go the long way to avoid Samaria. During Jesus' ministry, he intentionally ministered in Samaria to share the Good News with people in need.
Our purpose in offering short-term missions trips is to equip those who attend to let their light shine in a city of darkness according to Matthew 5: 14-16, and to encourage participants to do the same when they return home to their own communities and schools.
Matthew 5:14-16- "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
To fulfill this purpose, we will focus on four areas: servanthood, compassion, evangelism, and racial reconciliation.
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Our Missions Trip Theme
It's Not About Me...it's about being a light for Christ."
We often focus so much attention on ourselves that we miss out on the greater calling God has for our lives. During the trip, we will be focusing on each team member's "greater calling" in life, the calling to be a disciple of Christ. To be a follower of Christ, we are encouraged numerous times throughout the Bible to be "light". We can do this only by following the example of the true Light, Jesus Christ.
Our goal is that those who come on our mission trips will leave with a better understanding of how they can be a light by following Christ's example of humility, showing His love, reaching out to those who are different than themselves, and getting outside their comfort zones to share the message of Christ.