Why Do We Go There When There's Needs Here

Fifteen  blog posts.

Thousands of miles.

Countless memories.

And, by God's grace, lives that were changed forever.

Before we officially close out this year's Mozambique blog series, I want to answer one question that inevitably comes up every time we announce an international mission trip, and every time we come home.

Why do we go there when there's so much work to be done here?

It's a fair question, and it's an important one.

So, here's my answers.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
- Acts 1:8

Notice He didn't say instead "or". He said "and."

The Great Commission has always been both local and global.

Our church exists to see lives transformed by the Word of God so that all the corners of the earth will know that Jesus is Lord. That includes Northeast Ohio. It also includes Mozambique.

Obedience isn't choosing one or the other. It's embracing both.

One of the tools missionaries often use is this Joshua Project map, which highlights people groups around the world based on their access to the gospel.  On the map, the green areas have an established church presence, yellow areas have some access but significant need remains, and red areas represent some of the least-reached places on earth.

Most church mission trips, while great trips good trips, serve only in places where churches are already well established. I thank God for that work. But it's my prayer that our church will go where the need is greatest.

Mozambique is a fascinating place. Depending on where you are in the country, you'll find regions with a strong Christian presence, areas where the church is growing, and others where there is little to no gospel witness.

That's one of the reasons our partnership with Pastor Benedito means so much to us.

He doesn't just want to visit the places where Christianity is already flourishing. He wants to take the gospel farther into places where it is scarcely known. And we want to help him.

Please pray with us as we continue to discern what future partnerships and future trips might look like, especially as we seek opportunities to serve in even less-reached areas of Gaza Province and beyond.

I've never met someone who returned from faithfully serving halfway around the world and came home less passionate about sharing Christ here.

I've only seen the opposite.

Something happens when you watch people worship under a tree. When you preach through a translator. When you pray with pastors and church leaders  who have so little materially but so much joy in Christ. You come home remembering that Jesus is worth talking about.

International missions has never distracted our church from local ministry. It has only  fueled it.

My prayer isn't just that people would become passionate about Mozambique. My prayer is that people would become passionate about Jesus, and that passion would overflow into every neighborhood, every workplace, every school, every conversation, and every corner of the world.

The mission field isn't only across the ocean. It's also across the street.
And going across the ocean reminds us why we should cross the street.

As we close this year's blog series, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving. Thank you for following along each day.

Thank you to every member of our team for serving with humility, flexibility, and joy. It was a privilege to serve alongside each of you.

My prayer is that these posts didn't just tell the story of our trip, but reminded all of us of the story God is writing around the world.

The countdown to our next trip to Mozambique has officially begun.  When will it be?  We don't know yet.  

But, Lord willing, we'll see you there!