12 days ago 37 people from First Baptist Moreland returned from a week-long mission trip to one of America's poorest regions - the Mississippi Delta. This was the largest and the farthest mission trip our church has taken. Here are 4 important lessons I observed from our recent trip:
1). Mission teams must be connected to a local church. We hosted 3 church-based VBS' and 1 community-based VBS at a local community center. The community VBS was sponsored by an area church, but I don't believe the children nor parents associated the community VBS with the church 4 blocks away. Community-based ministry must connect to an area church.
2). A local church must follow-up after the mission team. A mission team isn't performing a "show" nor are they on "tour" - rather they should be planting seeds a local church would come after and water.
3). A mission team must intentionally encourage a local church. Too many churches in the Delta are discouraged and dying. The real mission might not be towards the unchurched and unsaved - rather to spark a revival with the local church. The missionary is the one who travels and encourages people in the Lord - we're the one ministering to others, we shouldn't have an entitlement attitude.
4). Missions always begins at home. If you're not living a missional lifestyle here in Newnan, Georgia - it's going to be hard to transform into a one-week missionary. The Delta opened my eyes to the poverty and needs here in Georgia. Why spend hundreds and thousands of dollars reaching children in a trailer park in Sidon, Mississippi if I'm not willing to drive into the numerous trailer parks here in Coweta County?
Pictures from the Mississippi Delta
1). Mission teams must be connected to a local church. We hosted 3 church-based VBS' and 1 community-based VBS at a local community center. The community VBS was sponsored by an area church, but I don't believe the children nor parents associated the community VBS with the church 4 blocks away. Community-based ministry must connect to an area church.
2). A local church must follow-up after the mission team. A mission team isn't performing a "show" nor are they on "tour" - rather they should be planting seeds a local church would come after and water.
3). A mission team must intentionally encourage a local church. Too many churches in the Delta are discouraged and dying. The real mission might not be towards the unchurched and unsaved - rather to spark a revival with the local church. The missionary is the one who travels and encourages people in the Lord - we're the one ministering to others, we shouldn't have an entitlement attitude.
4). Missions always begins at home. If you're not living a missional lifestyle here in Newnan, Georgia - it's going to be hard to transform into a one-week missionary. The Delta opened my eyes to the poverty and needs here in Georgia. Why spend hundreds and thousands of dollars reaching children in a trailer park in Sidon, Mississippi if I'm not willing to drive into the numerous trailer parks here in Coweta County?
Pictures from the Mississippi Delta
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