Developing a Mission focus
 
I've just had the privilege of spending a week in the Dominican Republic with a team from Grace Church.  What a blessing from God it was for me.  Upon returning, the question was presented to me as to why we go on mission trips when we could just stay here and take care of the needs of this church. A good question, to which I responded with another question:  Have you ever discovered that you have become so accustomed to something in your life that you don't notice it anymore?  I believe it has happened to each of us in one way or another.  We are so constantly exposed to things around us that we often don't see it anymore.  We might drive past it every day but no longer even realize it is there. 
 
This same thing happens to us from a spiritual perspective.  I call it spiritual near-sightedness.  We loose our focus on the things around us, and begin to look primarily upon ourselves.  One of the best cures for spiritual nearsightedness is a cross cultural mission experience.  Being in another place and culture sharpens our vision as we can't not see the differences and needs around us.   It is in the context of a short term mission experience that we begin to look beyond ourselves, and our vision for others becomes clearer.  We are challenged to be what God wants us to be, and encouraged by others on our team to break out of our comfort zones to be used by God in ways we never dared risk before.
 
We plan mission trips at Grace as a very important part of "Running the Race" and the path to spiritual development.  These are not just mission trips where you go somewhere and do something because the people there can't do it themselves.  This is a very personal and intentional encounter with God and is the context of serving other people.  It can't help but change us!  It restores our spiritual vision for others around us who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. 
 
Let's all ask ourselves this very personal and pointed question:  How good is my spiritual vision?  I invite you to consider joining us on a "spiritual vision trip" to discover what God has in store for you.
 
In His service,
 
Pastor Joel
 
 

'Neither wind nor rain nor dark of night' took on a new meaning for the Grace Church missions team in the Dominican Republic. Each time I go on a missions trip there is always something new to learn, some new experience aimed at teaching me something. This trip was certainly not the exception. 
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The following interview was conducted with Mesa Taveras.  Mesa was born in Hispaniola (Dominican Republic) and has been married to Mary for 14 years.  Mesa and Mary moved to the Allen area from Ecuador in 2001 and began attending Grace in 2003.     ...more