“Worship is fuel for missions.”
This was a quote used at a mission’s conference I attended recently in Tyler, Texas. You may or may not be familiar with the organization YWAM (Youth With A Mission.) YWAM began 60 years ago when a man by the name of Loren Cunningham had a personal encounter with God. He’d been praying about what God was asking of him. Through this unique encounter, his answer from God was clear: Love God and love your neighbor. Loren did this through starting a training school for young missionaries. Now, 60 years later, Youth With A Mission has sent over 18,000 missionaries into the mission field reaching 180 countries all over the world. TRULY INSPIRING!
Our Coreluv staff attends YWAM’S missions conference every year because it fuels our love for missions. It also allows us to see the bigger picture of what God desires to accomplish through His church when we are loving Him and loving our neighbor. When we put our love for God into action, our faith comes ALIVE and we, His church, walk in the wholeness of our calling!
When we first began Coreluv, I used to share a favorite quote with people often.
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman
Isn’t this true as it relates to our faith? I have served inside of the church for many years, but I can truly say that I’ve never felt more ALIVE as when I stepped outside to share God’s love with others in tangible ways. It’s simply what we were intended to do.
Don’t just love God and STOP there.
If anyone loves a good worship experience, it is me!!! But because I’ve seen the poor and the broken first hand, I am no longer content with permanently staking my tent inside the worship circle; never allowing my experience to impact the world.
If we do this, we can become ineffective and eventually self-centered wanting the next moment of worship to top the last so that we can feel good forgetting to share what we’ve experienced with others.
The whole of the gospel hinges on TWO scriptures: Love God and love your neighbor.
As the church, we were created by God to love Him and then to take His love to the world. Let us willingly obey Him. I believe the church is poised and positioned for such a time as this; created to model the greatest explosion of faith this world has ever seen! His name is JESUS, and His worship was fuel for missions.
You may be wondering if missions is just for the select? Is it only for those God has placed a specific missionary calling on? Can I graciously answer that question for you?
No, it’s not!
We are ALL called to love our neighbor!! Even if you feel unqualified or think you have too many problems of your own. The Bible tells us that he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Sometimes our greatest moment of healing can come through serving others regardless of how we feel.
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” – Isaiah 58:7-8
There are multiple avenues where you can put your faith into action. You may choose to do so locally or abroad. I’d just like to encourage you to do it even if it means climbing outside of your comfort zone!
– Mandy Reiszner