It's His Mission
by Matt Anderson
Looking back a year ago at the people gathered to worship here at MES, I wasn't sure exactly how this past year was going to go. Was this what God was calling me to do?
Many years ago, Deana and I attended a church leadership conference in Tinley Park. The keynote sermon talked about being a "Fishermen." My immediate thoughts rose to my Grandfather Mellinger, a fisherman and pastor. Did I need to quit being an engineer? I am pretty sure that wasn't what God wanted me to be...I made that decision many years earlier. The keynote continued - "When have you gone fishin' for men?" Honestly, beyond a few times on the boat with Grandpa - not in a long time.
But that wasn't what the keynote was about. At the time, I wasn't 100% certain what that meant in my life. Was I equipped to lead someone to Christ? Is this like trolling for Fluke? Or Spear fishing ? How do I do this? Am I ? How do I go fishin'? Last year, some of that fog lifted as we began worship a year ago.
Be Missional - (I've seen too many Going Tribal shows on TV ) - isn't always somewhere in the 60/40 window, or in a rainforest outside of the United States. I have not been gifted with an ability to translate as family friends have. I don't have slides of my mission trip.
Missio Dei arrived at according to his divine guidance - it's his Mission. His wisdom selected me to stretch myself, my wife, and my kids. The difference in the family is amazing. Not only have the kids grown up and matured, they are much more aware of Jesus. After four boys, when your 15-month old daughter says Amen at the conclusion of prayer - your heart skips a beat. I don't recognize where I was when this started - I just know that I have come a long way. In this past year I have been able to appreciated and love my family and my wife more - all to God placing people according to his plan. Not mine. But his. For this opportunity - I am humbled and in need of his grace.
This is my mission trip unless God has something else he would like us to do. This family - Missio Dei - is the body of Christ. Genesis 12 begins with the Lord revealing his purpose in a promise - but that promise needs us . This is not something to be passive about.
