Building a Sending and Going Culture for Missionary Work
In the early years of their friendship, Pastor Tim learned from Nik Ripken that being a missionary involves actively participating in the spread of the Gospel. Today, both speakers ask us to embrace a mindset of sending and going while empowering others to do the same. So, what does a missionary do, and what does it mean to be one?
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What Does a Missionary Do?
In this episode, Nik and Tim emphasize that being a missionary involves active participation in spreading the Gospel. It goes beyond passive involvement and requires believers to step out of their comfort zones and engage with the world around us. Whether it’s sharing the love of Christ in our local communities or venturing into distant lands, missionaries are called to be living testimonies of God’s grace.
Additionally, embracing a mindset of sending and going is crucial for effective missionary work. Nik Ripken encourages individuals and churches to cultivate a culture where sending and going are central. This means not only supporting missionaries financially or through prayers but also actively equipping and mobilizing believers to be missionaries themselves.
Furthermore, empowering others is an integral part of a missionary’s role. Nik Ripken highlights the importance of nurturing and equipping believers to become effective witnesses of the Gospel. Missionaries are not just bearers of good news. They are also mentors, trainers, and catalysts for growth. By empowering others, missionaries multiply their impact exponentially, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond their individual efforts.
Through Nik Ripken’s early teachings, Pastor Tim and the churches in Kentucky experienced a paradigm shift in their understanding of missionary work. They realized that being a missionary is not confined to a select group of people who travel to far-off lands. Instead, it is a calling for every believer to actively participate, embrace a mindset of sending and going, and empower others to do the same.
Missionaries Embrace the Unfamiliar
As Pastor Tim embarked on his missionary journey, he encountered a profound sense of aloneness. He realized that the unfamiliar surroundings mirrored the isolation that many missionaries experience in their host countries. From the language barrier to cultural differences, every aspect intensified the feeling of being a minority. After he returned home, Pastor Tim’s honest reflections shed light on the internal struggles faced by missionaries. Finally, he highlighted the courage required to persevere in the face of such challenges:
Wow. I had never felt so alone. This is really what it must feel like sometimes for folks that go over there. I’m a complete minority over here. All of these experiences, from getting sick on food to the airplane trip back… that was its own nightmare. I got back and I thought – okay – now I’ve been on a mission trip.
This was the real thing.
You feel the lostness… everywhere you look.
Missionary work is not meant to be comfortable. It demands stepping beyond the boundaries of familiarity and embracing the unknown. Pastor Tim’s experiences, from falling sick due to unfamiliar food to enduring the hardships of an arduous airplane trip, shows us that true missionary work pushes individuals outside their comfort zones. It is through these challenges that personal transformation takes place, strengthening faith, resilience, and empathy.
Fulfilling the Call to Missions
The role of a missionary is a transformative journey where believers actively spread the Gospel, adopt a mindset of sending and going, and empower others who may live and think differently than themselves. Through the experiences of Pastor Tim and Nik Ripken, we begin to understand the challenges and rewards of missionary work. Stepping out of our comfort zone, engaging with resistant communities, and empowering others are not easy tasks. However, they are pivotal in fulfilling the call to mission.
In conclusion, Pastor Tim and Nik Ripken ask us to embrace the transformative journey of a missionary. May we leave a positive and lasting impact as we actively participate in God’s mission to reach the lost and empower others to do the same.
