Serving Beyond Ourselves and Our Needs

“We see our needs and overlook the true needs and interests of those we are serving” ~Toxic Charity

How many mission trips have you been on? Who were the others that went with you? Who were you serving? How long was the trip? What were you doing? Was a lasting difference made?

The more I am serving as a young adult missionary in Dallas, TX the more I find myself becoming frustrated with the concept of mission trips and service. For the past 22 years before entering into ministry and being sent to Dallas, I would consume as much of my time as I could doing mission trips and service projects… In essence, I was “helping” those that needed it but was the work that I did and you have done truly making a difference and lasting impact?

I see FaceBook posts about working on houses, doing yard work, feeding the hungry, etc but truly think about it, what’s the impact and is it a fruitful impact or are we causing more harm? Don’t get me wrong; as Christians and as followers of Christ we are meant to do something about the injustice and pain in this world but again, are we helping or are we doing more harm by doing 1 week trips or 1 day service projects?

“35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” ~Matthew 25:35-40

Any church that I have been apart of has had some emphasis on going beyond the church walls and reaching those in need. Every church has offered opportunities to go on mission trips or do participate in service projects but what’s the impact and what’s the reason behind them? Honestly, the more I am serving at my placement site, seeing the work that is being done, and learning more… I feel like the church is just filling a quota to serve others but this is more for those doing the service work or mission trip than it is for those being served.

Let me explain with a recent event that took place… For the past 6 weeks I have been helping with a 6 week long summer youth leadership camp where we took all the students through a 6 week course of talking about career readiness, healthy living, and Biblical foundation. Almost weekly we had a time where the students could be prayed with and had a chance to accept Christ into their lives. At the end of the 6 weeks, we ended up having 13 first time decisions for Christ and 19 recommitments for Christ to be their Lord and Savior. Throughout the 6 weeks I questioned why was the camp 6 weeks and not shorter and while I still believe camp could be a few weeks shorter, I realize that it needed to be so long because true and authentic relationships were being formed. Relationships that allowed for the students to be vulnerable with those leading the students through the 6 weeks and resulted in the first time decisions and rededications.

 If camp were only a week like many mission trips or even one day like many service projects then I would have left questioning if those commitments and dedications were authentic but I honestly have little doubt that the responses were made it because as someone who was helping with camp for 6 weeks, I can honestly say that the students we had wouldn’t say they made a first time decision or recommitment and not mean what they said.

“Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.” 

At the camp, we taught the kids the fundamentals of the Christian faith and the importance of reading and memorizing scripture as well as the importance of applying it to their lives. We didn’t just give the kids something to do for 6 weeks but we taught them… I wonder, how many mission trips and service projects are we teaching those we serve and building authentic relationships with and how many of them are we just feeding and then going on with our own lives?

I can say all this because I was that person who went on any mission trip I could and was even apart of a service sorority but with the relationships being built here in Texas, the work that is being done, what I am seeing, etc… I am experiencing true ministry where I can leave knowing that a difference truly has been made. I haven’t just come in and left and not allow the work that is being done and the relationships to change how I see things and who I am.

Therefore, I ask, are we making a difference through our mission trips and service projects or are we causing more harm to those we serve in the end? Many of the mission trips and service projects are serving the needs of the church and an individual but isn’t it time that we move beyond ourselves and our needs and truly reach those that God asks us to reach and serve? It’s not easy work and it will get frustrating and you may be broken as I have been at times but in the end, you can leave knowing that you went beyond yourself and your needs. There will still be times that you ask if you are helping or causing more harm and that’s always going to be a battle but if we are in God and in line with His teaching and His calling then we can’t go wrong. It’s time that we build authentic and true relationships, listen to those we serve, and stop “giving the people a fish and feeding them one day” but rather “teaching them how to fish and feeding them a lifetime.”

So, what do you say? Are you willing to go beyond yourself and your needs and truly make a difference and help others or are you stuck in the routine of how things have been? It’s up to you!

God is our fortress: "Be still and know that I am God"

Read Psalm 46:1-11

Be still and know that I am God… How often do we find ourselves in an isolated place or anywhere where we are able to be still and know who God is, hear His voice, and give over all of our worries, our burdens, our stress, our agendas, etc? In all honesty in this world, it’s hard to do just that since we are so used to always being on the move that we forget to just be still and know who God is. If we truly knew who God was then we wouldn’t be overwhelmed and wondering what was next and how things would get done, we wouldn’t be stressed, frustrated, and overwhelmed since God is waiting to give us peace since He is peace and He is the one that has mapped out our day, our week, the month, year, our lives so why not step back and just be still and know who God is and experience His peace and listen to His voice?

It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks that we forget to slow down and appreciate who God is and everything around us. If you’re like me then you long to find yourself in a solitude place in nature (near water, in the mountains, near a beach, in a rain forest, etc) I long for that because that’s where I feel closest to God. It’s there in nature that I can find myself relaxing and in a state of mind where I can be still and know who God is, the creator of everything.

That’s what I appreciate about the Hispanic culture, in Costa Rica they have a saying that is “Pura Vida” which is the answer for everything but also resembles how the culture lives in the moment and are not in a hurry. They say Pura Vida all the time which means pure life but even more so it means all is good and nothing is bad. Even when things may not be going as expected, the answer is still Pura Vida. It’s a reminder that we need to step back and reflect on what is and be still so we can truly know who God is and what He is doing.

I’ve had to reflect on this thought of stepping back and reflecting on my life as I was reminded by all the other young adult missionaries in my class that it was a year ago this past Wednesday that we embarked in the ministry journey together bit the thing is while reflecting, I realize that I have been in the position where I was warned about by my collegiate ministry. I have been human and looking forward rather than in the moment which results in overlooking who God is, why He has me here, and what He is doing.

Be still and know that I am God. We all need to find our place where we can step back and slow down so that we can be still and know who God is, what He is doing in our lives, in our ministries, and all around us. For me, it’s anywhere in nature or lately when I am running and doing a race but for you it may be something else so I ask, where does God want you to retreat to in order to be still and know that He is God?

In a world that is always changing and always fast pace, it’s hard to find ourselves able to be still and know that God is who He is but it’s a way of living that we all need to incorporate more into our walk with God since if we keep neglecting being still and being with God to know and see what He is doing then we will find ourselves drained, exhausted, tired, and ultimately not able to do what God has called us to do and be His light and hope to the broken world or more specifically to the broken parts of Dallas. So, where is your place of solitude and have you visited it lately or are you going with the fast pace flow of the world and overlooking the peace that God wants for all of us to have, a peace in knowing who He is and knowing that He has all things already worked out for us so there’s no need to worry.

I know I often overlook being still since I would rather be busy but God asks us to go against how this world operates and calls us to be still and know Him more, be in-synced with His plan for us, and be refreshed for whatever may come our way.

So, find your Costa Rica and slow down so you can hear God’s voice rather than the voice of this world and society.

Completely God's

Are we completely God’s or are we only God’s when we think it’s convenient? Are we just going through the motions or are we completely living for God?  

“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.” ~Ezekiel 33:30-32

Do you go to church? Do you read your Bible? Do you have a daily quiet time? Are you in ministry? Etc… For many Christians, most if not all of the above questions would be “yes” but lately I wonder, are we truly living out why Jesus came over 2000 years ago and are we truly living as Christians? It’s easy to do all the “Christian” things but when we get down to it, are we truly picking up our crosses and following Jesus daily or are we just going through the motions as mentioned above in Ezekiel? It’s a real struggle and there are times in our lives where we will find ourselves feeling empty on the inside and not understanding what’s going on but if we truly pay attention to the emptiness then we can probably find out that it has something to do with being spiritually empty. As someone working in ministry, I feel like we are too often prone to getting caught up in the motions and not truly giving God our everything and being completely God’s. It’s easy to get into a routine or working and going to church that we overlook the actual relationship with God and how we are living out the Gospel. As the Matthew West song says, “I don’t want to go through the motions, I don’t want to go one more day without your all consuming passion inside of me. I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking what if I had given everything instead of going through the motions.” Are we truly sold out to God or are we wondering at the end of the day how things would have been different if we had only give it our everything? Are we starting a new journey and looking back wondering “what if” or are we confident that we were completely God’s and lived everyday as if it were our last and for God rather than just going through the motion and missing what God may have had in store for us and wanted us to get out of the day, the year, our experience, etc?

"As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” ~Luke 9:57-62

Sometimes in life and in our day to day task and conversations we may find ourselves wondering what the point of things are, if we are making a difference, if things really matter, etc and we pick and choose what to give our everything to but when it comes to being a follower of God we should be living everyday to our fullest potential and giving God our everything. The above passage explains it well. We need to be willing to follow God where ever He leads us, live to our fullest potential, and give our everything for God rather than only doing it when it’s convenient like going to church but not spending time with God the rest of the week.

I know this is something that is often brought back to my attention and I have to be reminded about how I am living my life and that God called me into a life of ministry even when I may feel like it’s not worth it or it seems inconvenient. It’s easy to get caught us in going through the motions but going through the motions and following God only when it’s convenient isn’t what God wants from us but rather He wants our everything and we should be living completely for God and being His light in the broken world and to those that need to see Christ through us. We never know who may be looking up to us to get a glimpse of Christ and hope in Christ so be cautious of the moments when you find yourself just going through the motions or “inconvenienced” in following God where He has called you to go or do what He has called you to do. 

Surrender everything to God's control and be completely His!

July 23rd… One year ago

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” ~Helen Keller

          “I have put before you an open door that no one can close” ~Revelation 3:8

Every journey has a beginning and every journey comes with expected and unexpected circumstances but little did I know that the journey I was about to embark on would change who I am.

I still remember it as if it were yesterday, leaving Indiana to travel to New York for the beginning of my ministry journey. Meeting other young adults, half of which I never knew, meeting the Global Ministries staff, and being in a state that I had never been to but was bigger than the state that I was coming from. I was about to embark on a 2-year journey that I didn’t know what to expect.

I remember our community living experience where we lived together in a house together for a week, cooked and ate together, and just did life together. An experience that I miss and wish I were apart of once again since there’s something about living together among those your same age and truly doing life together. There may be moments where people get on your nerves and wonder how much longer you can take living with them but you also realize that there is always someone to talk to, hang out with, etc. It’s even better when your living with a group of people that are have been or are about to start a journey that you are on. Living with the other young adult missionaries in the US-2 class made me appreciate having someone to talk to and pray with about what was going on and being around others that truly understood and got what I was going through since we were all on the same journey together and were able to support and encourage each other rather than just say things just because it sounded good. That’s one experience that I miss but am glad that the 2014 class will be embracing with the new modo where at least 2+ people are sent to the same area and will be living in intentional living communities.  After all, Jesus did send the disciples out in pairs.

I also remember the fear, uncertainty, etc that I had 1 week before being commissioned and sent out into ministry. I almost dropped out of the program because I knew that the path that I had chosen would take me from family, friends, and a community that I wouldn’t have to go in search for. I was about to leave the ministry that I had just started to pursue FEMA Corps and be a first responder during natural disaster. However, I knew that God had called me into ministry so I decided to keep moving forward in the ministry journey and now I find myself 1 year into the journey.

There are still things that I miss but at the same time, there is an at peace feeling that God has placed inside me. I realize that I will always miss my friends and family back home but I also believe that we were never meant to stay in one place forever. I also still long for an intentional community and to get better connected with the church and young adults here in Texas.

So, I find myself 1 year into the journey and I wouldn’t change the decision I made since it has truly been one of the best but also challenging and frustrating journeys that I have been on but I still wouldn’t change it for anything. I still believe that I made the right choice 1 year ago when I said yes to entering into this ministry journey.  There’s still one year to go and I look forward to what God has planned for me during this next year and where things will continue to take me.

Thanks for all the support, prayers, conversations, etc that you have all provided since I embarked on this journey 1 year ago today since I couldn’t have done it and wouldn’t be where I am without the support and without my placement site and those that I work with!

Expect The Unexpected

Wow, it doesn’t seem like it’s possible but 1 year ago I was in New York anxiously awaiting to figure out what it was that I was getting into. I was about to meet other young adults who had the same passion and desire as I did, a passion and desire to serve God and enter into ministry. 3 weeks of training went by and we were commissioned as the class of 2013 and now it’s mid July 2014, which means, I have been serving with the Dallas Leadership Foundation in Dallas, TX for almost a year now (later blog to come as to what’s happened in the year since I have been in Texas). Yeah, coming to Texas was never on my radar until God placed the opportunity in front of me and decided to send me to Texas, so you can definitely say that it was the unexpected.

It seems to me like that’s how God is, He is always full of surprises and when you think you have life figured out, He will toss you a curve ball that you never expected. Expect the unexpected and expect great things from God.

Now that I am almost 1 year into my ministry assignment, I am finding myself wondering, “what’s next?” even though I still have a year left where I am. While I may not know all the answers and I may not currently know what’s next, I do realize that God is putting things on my mind as to what may possible be next and all I can say right now is that it truly is the “unexpected” since one possible path is one that I have been saying “no” to since I started this ministry journey but lately, God has been stirring things inside me which may change that “no” to a “yes”.  

So, expect the unexpected when God's involved in the picture and expect great things from God since His plan is always great and while we may not see the bigger picture, He will reveal to us just the right amount that we need to see and place us where we need to be.

Celebration of HOPE!

12 meetings, over 3 months of planning and preparation, 9 neighborhoods, 35 projects, and about 1000 volunteers registered and ready to make a change in all sectors of Dallas in one day. Yeah, June 28^th and Celebration of Hope had arrived!

When thinking about it, I wonder how did all of the above get pulled off and the only answer I have is that God provided and showed up. Even with this being my first year with Celebration of hope, I could definitely see that we were hitting a lot of “bumps” in the road and that things were definitely not always going as planned or expected but in the end, God provided and made me realize that God is always waiting for us to go to Him and ask for help and to say “okay God, I can’t do this on my own and I’ve done all I can do so help”. It’s at that time that we make room for God to do His work and show up, as He had wanted to all along.

I saw the need of 200+ volunteers 1 week before the workday turn into only needing maybe 50 volunteers in less than a week and I saw a grant we were waiting on come through (even if it was last minute and caused stress and tension, it still came through and we were able to get the supplies/ material/ tools needed to accomplish the workday). I also saw volunteers not quitting but persevering to make a change in the 9 neighborhoods and 35 residents even when it started raining.

You ask, how could you accomplish working in 9 neighborhoods, every sector of Dallas, doing 35 projects, and bringing out about 1000 volunteers in 1 day? The answer is God since none of it would have been possible if we were doing it all on our own and none of it would have been possible if God hadn’t been in the midst of every step, every meeting, all the planning and preparation, all the conversations, etc… Yes, there was a lot of stress and tension at times but in the end everything came together and we couldn’t have done any of it without God, the neighborhood leaders, the volunteers, the staff, our partners, and anyone else involved with any aspect of making Celebration of Hope happen.

So ultimately, a picture’s worth 1000 words so below are some pictures of the workday and what took place in 1 day to bring hope and change to the neighborhoods, the residents we served, and Dallas!

Prayer to start the work day in Hamilton Park (Prayer circles done in each neighborhood)

Registration Team in Jubilee Park

Resident helping to make a different in Jubilee and on her house

Resident in Hamilton Park excited about the work being done on her house

Resident and team captain in Mill City thrilled about the work that was done on her house

Residents and home owners moved by the work volunteers did on their house and for the Jubilee neighborhood

Packing up tools to take to one of the houses in Hamilton Park

Registration team and volunteers signing in at Hamilton Park

Volunteers leading change in the neighborhoods and all sectors of Dallas

Even getting stung by a wasp didn't stop this volunteer from making a difference and leading change