Four Important Benefits Of Being Part Of A Mission Team

Two weeks ago more than 25 students and 6 adults from our church took a one week mission trip (their fourth in the past four years). This year the kids participated in a M-Fuge (http://www.lifeway.com/fuge/mission/ project, this one centered in Philadelphia, PA. Tonight in our evening service a dozen or more members of the team shared video and still photos and their personal testimonies regarding their week in Philadelphia. Some of them worked in recreation programs. Some did social work in nursing homes and among mentally handicapped young people. Others were involved in clean up, fix up, and light construction work. All of it was done in the name of Christ.

The group worshipped together and worked together with other young people from different areas of the country. Their testimonies about the experience were touching and the video and photos were a wonderful resource to help our older congregants relate to what the young people experienced. We are blessed with a group of mature believers who are unusually supportive of our students, their activities and involvement. It was an excellent and informative service.

Our church has committed to be an "Acts 1:8 Church", doing missions in our city, surrounding areas, outlying regions, North America, and around the world. Many of our members ranging from teenagers to octogenarians are, or have been actively involved in missions. We often say, "The mission field begins right outside our doors, and reaches around the world." I am thankful that Westmoreland Baptist Church (which is the result of mission work) has had a Great Commission outlook for 92 years. It is an honor to lead and to serve such a group of Christ Followers.

After hearing the kids and a couple of the adults give their report tonight, I identified four obvious benefits to being part of a mission team. Whether it be a local project, a foreign mission project, or the M-Fuge work that our kids experienced, the benefits are always the same. I believe those benefits to be as follows:

• You have a part in sharing the Gospel and building the Kingdom of God
• You grow spiritually as an individual and you are blessed for your service.
• You grow closer as a group. (Some of my dearest friends are those with whom I have done mission work)
• You have fun! (That may not sound real "spiritual" but it IS a great benefit)

I am proud of the kids who are working for the Lord and learning to serve. One of their leaders had a terrible freak accident at the M-Fuge site. She spent over a week in the hospital and has had major surgery done. The group had to go on with the work and even come home without her. She is in for many weeks of healing and many more of rehab. Lesser groups would have folded under such adversity. Not this one. It is a testimony to how they have been taught by their leaders, and how they have caught the vision. Cheryl, your labor has not been in vain!

So many times I have seen youth groups with an attitude of, "What will the church do for us?" This is a group who has shown several times that their outlook is, "What can I do for the Lord and for our church?" I respect them and honor the commitment of these young people and the adults who so wonderfully lead them by example!