Today we will be finalizing plans for our 2009 mission trip to the hills and hollers of eastern Kentucky. This will be our fourth year of VBS with the great people at Martin Baptist Church. We have really enjoyed building relationships with our friends there. This trip is also a great opportunity for our folks to deepen relationships with one another as well as deepen their own relationship with the Lord.
Occasionally someone will ask me about why we go away on these trips when there is so much to be done at home. I have a three-fold answer to that question. First, I believe that Jesus' words in Acts 1:8 command us to have a world wide vision for missions. I don't think that as a church we get to choose only to serve in Jerusalem or Judea or Samaria or the Uttermost. It is our desire as a church to impact all of these areas for the Kingdom of God. That's why each and every year we provide our people with opportunities to serve here in Greenwood, surrounding counties, other states, and in the uttermost parts of the world. Secondly, I have never seen someone come back from a mission trip unchanged. Some of the strongest workers in our church went on a mission trip before they made a commitment to serve here at home. There is just something about serving away from home that draws you into a closer relationship with God. Thirdly, we do a lot right here at home. Most of the time, when someone questions our motives for a distant mission trip there is an accusatory tone in the question. It seems like the short answer that God's Word commands us to go is never a good enough answer. So, just spend some time around us and you will find that we spend about three weeks a year serving outside of our community and forty nine weeks right here doing what God leads us to do to reach others for Him.
Pray for the people of Kentucky who have suffered much in spring floods.(See the picture of Martin, KY top right) Pray that will we have discernment as we select projects to focus our efforts on this year. (That they would be projects that the lord would have us work on, not of our own choosing) Pray for traveling mercies for the planning party as they travel. Begin praying now for those who have felt that it is God's will for them to participate this year. Pray that the Lord would prepare them for the great opportunities that lie ahead.
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