Devoted to Sending: Global Missions
This is one of three blog posts focused on Devoted to Sending. In this series, we will hear from three different people within the Creekside community reflect on what it means to be sent in the contexts of being a missionary overseas, church planting, and vocation.
In this blog post we will hear from Laura and her experience of being sent as a missionary.
Being sent cross-culturally gives me opportunities to serve those very different from me and occasionally to glimpse the beautiful gospel through eyes that are very different from my own.
I am so thankful to be sent by Creekside cross-culturally to a culture remarkably different from my own. A lot of time and effort (from many people) went into my preparation to go; since literally infancy, I have heard biblical stories, truths, and themes. At several points during the years I’ve been in Chad, I’ve been surprised and delighted to rediscover these stories and truths—often through the eyes of those from a different culture, who are hearing them for the first time.
One day, I was telling the story of the Fall to a dear friend, Mary. She listened, nodded along, and seemed to be tracking well. When I finished, she was silent for a moment. Then she looked up at us. "So... the pain we women experience in childbirth is because of sin? It's not just because... God likes to see women suffer?" Every time since then that we've referenced or discussed that story (or almost any other), Mary's comment is still, "Our pain is caused by sin, not because God enjoys it."
I don't know about you, Creekside family, but I had never before considered that curse in Genesis 3 to be liberating and a direct argument against a misogynist or sociopathic character in the Lord!
Another time, I was reading through the book of Matthew with my friend Faye. I read about the crucifixion and about the leaders who mocked Jesus: "Let Him come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him." She cracked up laughing. I smiled, sure I had mispronounced some Arabic word so that it meant "underwear" or something like that. But no, that wasn't what had tickled her. "Laura, this is the Jesus who healed the sick, made the blind see, and even raised the dead, right? That wasn't enough for them to believe. What—now they're saying they'll believe if He just comes down from the cross?"
Actually, it is a humorous and ridicule-worthy statement, and Faye had cut to the heart of defiant cynicism. Every time I read that passage now, I'm reminded that hearts deliberately closed to Jesus do not just need "that one thing" to be convinced; it's only through a supernatural work that anyone can turn.
I am so privileged to be sent cross-culturally, both because of the work that I get to join here and because of the opportunities for me to grow, learn, and see through new eyes. Even Chadian brothers and sisters, who are familiar with the Word, will always see the Lord through a different cultural lens than I will. But I occasionally get to peek through theirs, and I'm reminded that Jesus has promised there will be people from every nation and tongue before the throne, and that different cultures and languages each reflect a slightly different aspect of His infinite glory.
May we all—sent and sending—long for and work toward the day when His glory will be reflected all the more fully; the day that people, families, and groups from an unreached culture turn to Him and magnify Him in a slightly new way. May all the peoples praise Him!
In this blog post we will hear from Laura and her experience of being sent as a missionary.
Being sent cross-culturally gives me opportunities to serve those very different from me and occasionally to glimpse the beautiful gospel through eyes that are very different from my own.
I am so thankful to be sent by Creekside cross-culturally to a culture remarkably different from my own. A lot of time and effort (from many people) went into my preparation to go; since literally infancy, I have heard biblical stories, truths, and themes. At several points during the years I’ve been in Chad, I’ve been surprised and delighted to rediscover these stories and truths—often through the eyes of those from a different culture, who are hearing them for the first time.
One day, I was telling the story of the Fall to a dear friend, Mary. She listened, nodded along, and seemed to be tracking well. When I finished, she was silent for a moment. Then she looked up at us. "So... the pain we women experience in childbirth is because of sin? It's not just because... God likes to see women suffer?" Every time since then that we've referenced or discussed that story (or almost any other), Mary's comment is still, "Our pain is caused by sin, not because God enjoys it."
I don't know about you, Creekside family, but I had never before considered that curse in Genesis 3 to be liberating and a direct argument against a misogynist or sociopathic character in the Lord!
Another time, I was reading through the book of Matthew with my friend Faye. I read about the crucifixion and about the leaders who mocked Jesus: "Let Him come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him." She cracked up laughing. I smiled, sure I had mispronounced some Arabic word so that it meant "underwear" or something like that. But no, that wasn't what had tickled her. "Laura, this is the Jesus who healed the sick, made the blind see, and even raised the dead, right? That wasn't enough for them to believe. What—now they're saying they'll believe if He just comes down from the cross?"
Actually, it is a humorous and ridicule-worthy statement, and Faye had cut to the heart of defiant cynicism. Every time I read that passage now, I'm reminded that hearts deliberately closed to Jesus do not just need "that one thing" to be convinced; it's only through a supernatural work that anyone can turn.
I am so privileged to be sent cross-culturally, both because of the work that I get to join here and because of the opportunities for me to grow, learn, and see through new eyes. Even Chadian brothers and sisters, who are familiar with the Word, will always see the Lord through a different cultural lens than I will. But I occasionally get to peek through theirs, and I'm reminded that Jesus has promised there will be people from every nation and tongue before the throne, and that different cultures and languages each reflect a slightly different aspect of His infinite glory.
May we all—sent and sending—long for and work toward the day when His glory will be reflected all the more fully; the day that people, families, and groups from an unreached culture turn to Him and magnify Him in a slightly new way. May all the peoples praise Him!