Photo Credit: Kenneth Lu
Creative Commons

Become Mission Minded

My wife, my oldest daughter Shannon, and I took a short term mission trip to Russia in 1996. I remember meeting Dr. Sherry Ifft our missionary, at the airport, weighed down with bags of supplies she would use to train Sunday school teachers throughout Russia and the Ukraine. Shannon decided to extend her stay in Russia and travel with Sherry.

Following Shannon’s return, she announced that the Lord had spoken to her about a call to mission in China. She spent the next eight years in China and Malaysia. God was preparing her for her current call, Director of Missions at a large church in Pittsburgh.

My son Bryan and I were sitting on the porch at our farm overlooking a beautiful valley in suburban Pittsburgh. He and his family lived in the Chalet 100 feet away, providing us with access to grandchildren on demand. Life was good. Bryan was in the fourth year as director of LAMP, a program to mentor children living in Homewood, a depressed inner city community of Pittsburgh.

I had joined the LAMP program in 2006, driving weekly into Homewood from my comfortable, safe suburban neighborhood to help mentor six boys. Then came the surprise. Bryan announced that God was calling him into “incarnational” ministry. He explained that he was going to move his family into Homewood and live among those he was serving. God was preparing him to become a pastor.

Just like Shannon and Bryan, all of us are “called” to participate in God’s great adventure. It starts by being open and vulnerable, followed by steps of obedience.

Whether you are a prayer warrior, giver, goer, or sender, Jesus has reserved a place for you in building his kingdom.

Perhaps the Lord has spoken to you concerning Firstlight International, a tested and fruitful mission. Might he be preparing you for a blessing?

~ Kirk “Mac” McCabe