In the last two blog posts, I said that this season of “stay home-stay safe” could be a season for short-term mission teams to focus on their spiritual growth and reflect on the meaning of mission. Some groups might do this through a Bible study. Others might use a book for mission teams like A … Continue reading Theology – Not Just for Professionals
Tag: Short-term mission trip
Not Going On the Mission Trip
Anthony Gittins describes a missionary experience as a passing over and coming back in his book Ministry at the Margins. He says that this is “the greatest religious adventure of our time”. Many churches have mission teams that have spent months planning and preparing for their mission trip. Some of these were spring break mission … Continue reading Not Going On the Mission Trip
Short-term Mission in a Time of Coronavirus
John Wesley established three general rules for the earliest Methodist societies. The modern phrasing of his rules is: Do no harm, do all the good you can, and stay in love with God. The societies were small groups of people who sought spiritual renewal through gathering in small groups to pray, study scripture together, and … Continue reading Short-term Mission in a Time of Coronavirus
The Fragrance of Missions
This spring I planted a vegetable and herb garden. I used to plant tomatoes and a few herbs each spring, but we moved to a new part of the country a couple years ago and I wasn't sure if I should try a garden here. The weather is different, the soil is different, and besides....my … Continue reading The Fragrance of Missions
Understanding Our Perspective
A few days ago I went to a lecture by John Pavlovitz. He spoke passionately about the church’s need to embrace an expansive hope, to keep extending the table, because the table belongs to Christ, not to us. I think a lot about extending the table, in part because I drive past a restaurant renovation … Continue reading Understanding Our Perspective
Training Season
Last Sunday my town was hit by an ice storm. The weather forecast had called for some snow, but all we got was rain, sleet and freezing temps. That added up to a layer of ice on trees, power lines and roadways. Many area churches canceled their regular services or moved them to a … Continue reading Training Season
Waters of Baptism
This week as I’ve been preparing for Baptism of the Lord Sunday in my local churches, I’ve been reading a lot about water, about Methodist understanding of baptism, and as always, mission. What does mission have to do with our baptism? Baptism is one of my earliest memories, watching my brothers being baptized in our … Continue reading Waters of Baptism
Reading with Missional Lenses
As I write this, the remnants of hurricane Michael are right over the area where I live. The trees are swaying in the wind and the rain comes in bands. I’m familiar with this kind of weather because I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast. I just never expected it would be part of … Continue reading Reading with Missional Lenses
Come and See
Earlier this week I was in a meeting, studying the demographics around two churches in neighboring towns. Someone stopped by to pick up information from the person I was meeting with, and while we were all talking the person who stopped by invited me to join him on his next trip to the town where … Continue reading Come and See
What is Mission?
Last month I attended the Wild Goose Festival and had the opportunity to hear a presentation by the hosts of the Failed Missionary podcast and the author of The Very Worst Missionary. The conversation revealed a lot of pain and questions around the practice of mission, in particular, evangelical short-term mission and mission placements of … Continue reading What is Mission?
Sister of Hope Ministries 