Who is
a missionary? 1/25/2014
In ~4 months, we will be full time missionaries in Chad. Who
are these people? Today I am wrestling with the "M word". Missionaries (and
missionary kids) invoke various images for many people. I often find a
caricature image being suggested, as though missionaries are either untouchably
saintly or just crazy or weird.
One
dictionary describes missionary as a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or
ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care
and economic development. That’s pretty good but it says more about WHAT a missionary is, not WHO? (or whom? You can sort that part out). The more I speak with people about who I am and what I feel called to do,
the more entangled I feel in the trappings of a definition. I'm not a what, I am a "who".
I think the distinction to make here is that missionaries are "normal"
people that you know (ok, some more normal than others). Missionaries are not just actors in distant
countries. We are your friends, family,
neighbors. Me? I am an imperfect guy
trying to be the best version of myself in a way that reflects God's
light. Don’t be freaked out by that--
Having faith is
nothing to run from. Its bigger than the
box you may want to confine it to. Christianity isn’t perfection. Don’t let imperfection of people who follow
Jesus keep you from the simplicity of His message. We all sin. We all fall short. God loves you anyway. That makes it really easy to turn to faith in Jesus. You can read/hear the truth and believe it is possible. The "repent" part can be harder because (1) its a loaded word that scares people AND if you choose Jesus, (2) you will
want to turn 180 degrees, face Him, and choose a new path. That may require you to leave a few things
behind. After years of
"hiking" in a new direction, I easily can say I prefer walking in the
sun (or Son); Its warmer in every way and that warmth radiates to people around
you. Presto: instant missionary.
So with that in mind, we all can be missionaries. My best advice
comes from this borrowed line: "Preach the Gospel always;
if necessary use words." Don’t be creepy or fanatical in a way that is
a turn off. Know your audience. I can be all things to all people and remain true. Let your actions speak for
themselves. And guess what? You don’t even have to go
away to be a missionary. Sometimes people may think too narrowly about how they could personally serve. Even though I feel called to Africa, I like
to remember that we can be used anywhere.
The point is to pray and seek God's guidance about how and where you can
be an encourager.
I'm not an expert on
her life, but I really like this quote attributed to Mother Teresa because it reminds
us that God sends us to serve all over, including our own homes and
neighborhoods: She said, (you
can) "Stay where you are. Find your
own Calcutta. Find the sick, the
suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families,
in your workplaces and in your
schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you
go, you find people who are unwanted,
unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.”
If you aren’t sure where to start your "training"
for this path, read a Gospel from the bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and
see what Jesus really teaches. It may
not be the stuff you "heard about"; Its love and not hate. Go love someone and let it shine. Embrace the "M word".
Love,
Mason, Kim, Grace (Maddie), & Emmie McDowell
Psalm 139: 9-10
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side
of the sea, 10 even there
your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
This is a recent family photo (Dec 2013 in the U.S.) with some trick photography. I was in Chad when they took this pic so they taped a photo of my face onto a family friend who served as my "stand in". Who knew Kim could be funny? I think I look pretty good in that shirt.
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