Mission: In Progress

Missions to me is anything where you are challenged regarding the gospel. It can be to the extent of going to a whole different country or even going to a whole different country or even going to school. You don't need to necessarily pay lots of money and help out African-American kids, but you need to try and spread the gospel. In reality, the most broken and hardened hearts are the ones here in the United States. Living in the States, they grow up with all these blessings like shelter, food, and water where it seems not necessary for God. Therefore, I think it is something that has a certain purpose. In this case, it would be spreading more of the gospel and developing our relationship with God more.
This idea of missions is extremely crucial because it is our duty to go and spread the Gospel. If we aren't willing to go and do this mission, who else will? As followers of Jesus, we should want and also see it as an act of obedience because there is nothing greater than doing what God tells us to do. Instead of saying that we need to take a plan and fly somewhere else so that it can be a legitimate mission trip, we should do with what we have. Our campuses, churches, and homes have many people filled with things like cynicism or depression. We must continue to love on people here or someone across the globe and make sure to share the Gospel with them because that is the true commission.

The Great Commission

Mathew 28:16-20 
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

What is missions to you?
Missions is to act upon what God has commanded. Obviously there is a lot that God has commanded us to do, but it all sums up to sharing the gospel and who Christ is with others. I chose to share the passage of the Great Commission because it clearly states what our "mission" is; to "go and make disciples of all nations." I believe that there is no better way to "make disciples" then to act out Christ. Whether I have coffee with a friend or serve my community, everyday is an opportunity to go out on a mission. 

Why is this idea of missions important to you as a follower of Jesus?
 I want Christ to be a big part of me and I believe that my actions reflect a big part of who I am, therefore, I need to act like him and obey him. When someone loves another they want to show it by doing things for them. Although I cannot directly do something for God ( such as bake a cake for him or by him a gift), I can show my love and respect through obeying him. However, God also calls me to love others as I love myself. Not only do I find the idea of missions important in showing my love for God, but also for others. To share with them something more precious than gold. 

Mission Possible

     When we encounter a great experience, we tend to want to share what we've gone through so that our audiences can get a piece of what we felt in hopes of them having the chance to do the same. To me, this vicarious experience is what missions is all about. By spreading the words of God to different sorts of people in different sorts of ways, meaningful messages of the Gospel can be shared. Whether the listener/recipient successfully takes on the Christian faith or not, the fact that good deeds were done in the name of Jesus Christ remains at the core of missions. Missions provide previously nonexistent opportunities and serve as the helping hand to people who are unconscious of the revelation that they need salvation.
      As a follower of Jesus, I believe that it is my duty to be a messenger of God through whom people can be saved. It's essential to be selfless and not hoard all of God's love to myself. Because the idea of missions is to share and spread, I must be mindful at all times that through acts like missions, I need to put my necessities below those of others and serve with a grateful heart. For if we believers who already have faith in the Lord don't act upon our callings, then who will?