It seems we've developed an imaginary checklist for what it looks like to be a Christian in high school. It goes a little something like this:
- Go to youth group A LOT!
- Vow to shut down your Facebook. Then reboot your Facebook. Then vow to shut down your Facebook. Repeat.
- Wear Christian T-shirts as often as the laundry will allow.
- Win the dodge ball competition every year at camp.
And then there's the ultimate Christian experience ... going on a mission trip! Don't get me wrong; I love mission trips. I love going on mission trips. I love organizing mission trips. I love hearing about what God has done on mission trips. I love photos of mission trips. But as summer approaches, I wanted to remind you that missions and ministry are a lifestyle—not a trip to block off on your calendar each summer. Mission trips can be a great way to share your faith and minister to the practical needs of others, however, there is no biblical precedent for checking missions off of your Christian to-do list once a year without long-term impact for the way you live most of the time. Psalm 96:2–4 says, "Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." Acts 6:4 says, "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." In James 1:27 we read, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." Passages like these point to a lifestyle of ministry rather than a short-term scheduled event. This is the model that we see from the life of Jesus. Yes, there were times that He went to a neighboring city to minister, but that wasn't the only time He preached, taught, or reached out to those in need. I know it's only April, but could I encourage you to plan a missions summer? If an official missions trip or camp experience is part of the plan, that's great, but don't stop there. Plan ahead for ways to tell of God's salvation from "day to day." What is a long-term volunteer opportunity to you take that would give you opportunities to minister over the long haul? How can you devote yourself to prayer and ministry that last longer than a week? It will take planning and effort. What steps do you need to take to get there?
Missions trips are so amazing because they force us to touch the lives of those who need Jesus. The good news is that part of the experience is available to us after summer and well beyond high school. How can you become a missionary right where you are all summer long? Here's a thought to get you started. Name an individual or group of individuals in your town who need to hear about God's love. What do you need to do to plan to impact them with the gospel this summer?