Missionary...

Today, Dr. S challenged me, "Grace, tell me why do you not think that you are a missionary?"

Sandakan/Lahad Datu mission trip, Aug 2009

Actually, Matthew 28:18-20 makes it clear that ALL Christians are called to missions. We're all in this together. You don't have to be a Hudson Taylor, a Billy Graham or a Jim Elliot to do missions. You don't have to be a full-time church worker or a pastor to do missions. Even if you are in the marketplace...as a Christian teacher, doctor, businessman/woman ... housewife, etc, you are to fulfill God's commission and mandate - to bring to the nations God's love and the gospel, as well as to make disciples.

The term 'missionary' loosely refers to Christians who do cross-cultural evangelism. Many think that you have to be called overseas (or out-station at least) to do missions...Some think that missions involves trekking far into the jungle and meeting the rural/long-house Orang Asli's. Some feel that if we do go for a missions, it must be a longer term mission trip for us to qualify as a missionaries.

After Dr. S challenged me today, I am reminded that all of us Christians should think of ourselves as missionaries. Ambassadors for Christ in whatever field we are called to. Some missionaries are full-time evangelists (that's the kind we would traditionally approve as 'missionaries'). Some write music and create good art with their talents for the enjoyment of many. Some write good novels and books to encourage (think John Maxwell!) Some plant crops as farmers, harvest and sell them at the markets so that the people may have food. Some work diligently as house-helpers and hotel-cleaners, to keep places clean and livable. Some design houses as architects. Some do community work to help the poor, the orphaned, the widowed and the homeless. Some reach out to troubled people - those struggling with addictions, depression, low self-image, mid-life crises, etc... Some repair cars. Some are taxi drivers. Some own honest business firms to make a difference in this corruption-filled world we live in. Some run restaurants, creating delicious dishes to bless hungry stomachs. Some dedicatedly teach, while ministering to their students (this reminds me of Pn. Joanne and Pn. Yeo back in high-school - if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have come to know what Christ did for me on the cross!) Some heal the sick as doctors. Some are homemakers to support their husbands in their callings as well as to minister to their children. Some tend to the environment and preserve the wildlife God had created from extinction. Some get involved in policy-making. Some work a 'normal job' within another culture. Etc.

Whatever we do, individually or as a team, we are to work at it with all our hearts so that we honor and please the God we love, love others, be salt and light, and share the gospel of Christ. Cross-cultural? Yes. Of course! 'Biblical' culture vs. Culture of the world at least... if not for language differences... Wherever there are different races, different generations, different worldviews... there is a place for cross-cultural missions.

So dear Christian friend, are you a missionary? I am still trying to now think of myself as one....