On The Way Home

When bringing short-term evangelism and church planting teams back from the field I have them start their personal debrief on the plane on the way home.  I request them to think deeply, reflect, pray and journal on four questions.  It is important to do this while transitioning between contexts, and definitely before touching down at our local airport.  More follow up will be done later, but this is an important first step. 

What did God show you about Himself?  Missions is supremely about the glory of God being proclaimed, displayed and observed, so surely God has revealed more of Himself and His purposes to you.  Think back through the days and events, the struggles and the triumphs, the things you heard and saw, and how certain passages of Scripture took on fresh significance for you.  What more have you learned about your God?

What did God do in you?  You are a different person now, whether you realize it yet or not.  It is highly likely that He changed your perspective on the world and the great variety of peoples, especially because you made some new friendships with Christians from another culture.  And certainly after sharing the Gospel so many times and seeing so many different responses, your own response to the Gospel of Christ has grown, developed in new directions.  What are you thinking that you were not thinking before?

What did God do through you?  He did do amazing things!  You were talking about them all week long, remember?  Though you were somewhat prepared before you embarked on this mission, you really came in weakness, in fear and with much trembling.  You came with attitudes of humility, teachability and openness.  You simply had a desire to be used by God to share about His greatness and His glory.  So, what did He do through you?  What did He accomplish for His Mission?

This is not boasting in self, as you now know better, but simply telling stories about God:  Romans 15:17-18a (ESV), “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.  For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me . . .”

What might God have next for you in His Mission?  There is always a next.  He didn’t send you on this trip so you could put together a coffee table memory book and then stop.  Rather, this was part of His plan in training you for greater works.  Maybe you will return, return often, even return for a longer time of ministry.  Maybe you will go elsewhere, recruit others, even lead your own teams.  Maybe you will give more, pray more, and move your church more missional.  What is He stirring in your heart?  What ideas are swirling about in your mind?

Now, pray for a week . . . and then let’s talk.