Doing Missions Differently

Overlooking the City of
Matagalpa (98,000 pop).

My heart is full in so many ways tonight.  I am in Matagalpa,Nicaragua and find gratitude spilling out for the work God is doing within my congregation, First Baptist Church, Cornelia.  As one of my members, Helen Bryson, likes to say - "I love it when God shows up."  

Over the last three years we have been in an intentional missional conversation within our congregation. Individuals, committees, mission teams and small groups have discussed and dreamed and tried out many ideas of what it means to be missional in our global context.  During our visioning season called Walking by Faith, we even developed this incredible, missional vision which blows me away in both its simplicity and its vast, God sized challenged:  "FBCC exists to love the world as God loves us."  Wow!  

This week, I have begun to see the fruit of these years of discernment, experience, relationship building, learning, and growing together.  And, yes, Mrs. Helen, God has shown up.  

I have seen God move in some incredible ways:

Joint Commissioning service with mission teams from
FBC Cornelia and FBC Matagalpa.  38 members of FBCM
would ultimate work with the 23 members of our team during the week.

1. God brought two global churches - one from the mountains of Georgia and one from the mountains of Nicaragua - together for service.  This has been  happening for several years, but I really see it this year.  On Sunday night, I preached a sermon on what it means to be called by God.  At the end of the service, Pastor Javier, invited all of the FBC Matagalpa team members who would join us at the medical clinics/VBS to join him at the front - over 30 people walked up!  God had doubled our mission team!  Then, in this incredible moment of God - he asked our team to come up.  We stood facing the Nicaragua team, held hands with them - and then were jointedly commissioned to serve the least of these together in the villages.  I can't tell you how beautifully moving it was to me as a pastor see our churches united.
2. God has brought us some great ministry ministry

   

   The school garden at the school in Barrio Tulle
   who is working with Rayo de Sol.  

   partners.  This week we have joined hands with:   First Baptist Church, Matagalpa, Missionary Ventures (Missionary Brenda Rose) and Rayo Del Sol.  These partners have empowered us, served us, and challenged us to look deeper at our ministry setting.  We couldn't do what we do without these partners - and we certainly wouldn't have as much fun.  
3. God has opened our eyes

   

   Coffee plantations workers
   returning from the mountain near
   Santa Emelia Village.

   to new opportunities.  This week we have had a vision team serving beside the medical/VBS teams.  This team has visited schools and medical clinics, coffee plantations, eco-lodges, and individual homes.  They have asked tons of questions and listened to the answers.  They have put their ideas on the backburner to listen to community.  In some poor areas, they have looked and listened deeply for the assets in the community.  They have prayed for wisdom discernment.
   

   

   Eco-lodge near Santa Emelia

   
   

   

   Marta's daughter with my daughter, Sarah.
   After watching her brother struggle
   with Leukemia she wants to
   be a doctor.  She is another asset.

   

   Marta in the Village of Trentino
   displaying a quilt she and a group
   of women have made to sell.  They work on
   old  manual sewing machines.  One of the great assets we found. 

4. We are beginning to see the missonal core values which we have named lived out and it is a sign of God's Spirit:  

• Reciprocal – God is at work both in Matagalpa and Cornelia.  We must share this experience of the Spirit together. 

• Contextual – First Baptist Church, Matagalpa knows its mission field.  We desire to come along beside them to further their kingdom impact in the world. 

• Mobilized and Sent – Jesus commissions every individual Christian to go into the world to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  We desire to develop a mission vision which engages as many individuals as possible to use their gifts and passion.  For example, we want more individuals to have the same experience as our medical personnel who use their gifts and passions.  These gifts are varied as the individuals and include:  educators, carpenters, artists, and business people.

• Community Development/transformation:  In the name of Jesus, we desire to see individuals, families, schools, and communities transformed by the Kingdom of God. 

I know God is at work.  I am full of the joy of seeing that work in front of my eyes.  I look forward to seeing how God now challenges to walk by faith into the world - especially into mountains of Nicaragua.  It has started out as a great journey already.  

Our Mission Team at the end of a great week at the Leguna de Apoyo.