Cultivating an Environment of Missions
by Larry Leming, Missions Ministries Director

As we find the holidays upon us, many have or will soon begin to transform their houses and yards into a festive, holiday themed environment. Lights will adorn our homes and illuminate from the trees inside. Wreathes will hang from our front doors welcoming our friends, neighbors and even strangers who may glimpse its ribbons and bows. While inside, packages wrapped in a beautiful assortment of holiday themed paper will sit under our trees, while the radio or music players fill the air with the sounds and songs of the season. Nativity scenes adorn our mantles and holiday dinnerware adorns our dining room tables, as the smell of hot cocoa and warm apple cider bring the feeling of home. (I’m drooling and thinking of home as I write this) There can be no doubt. We have truly cultivated an environment of Christmas for all who pass by, glimpse or come inside our homes!!!!

Now the question comes to mind, can we use this idea of “cultivating an environment” in other areas of our lives?  Of course we can!!!! And what, you may be asking, would we be cultivating an environment of?   How about….cultivating an environment of missions?   As Christians, we are called to be about the mission of Christ, which is showing the love of Christ and sharing the message of salvation found in Him.   We do this through a variety of avenues including one on one evangelism, servant evangelism and by building relationships based on trust and compassion.

So, how do we cultivate this kind of environment in the areas of our lives such as home, work, church, community and others? Well, I have an IDEA!!!   First, we must be Intentional. Just as we carefully place each piece of our Christmas decorations in just the right spot, to convey just the right message, we must carefully place ourselves in those situations where we feel God leading and then be ready and open to the way He chooses to use us in His Kingdom work. We must choose to see our world through the eyes of the one who sees all and still loves us just the same. And just as the early disciples immediately left their nets and followed Him, we must be ready to act, without hesitation, when He calls. Our lives should be lived in anticipation of His moving!!!!

Next we must truly Desire to pour our lives into those around us. If we only decorated our homes for Christmas out of a sense of duty or “having to”, the end results would show the lack of desire and true joy in doing it. Furthermore, those who enter our home would see a pretty house, but would miss the warmth of a home filled with the joys of Christmas. So it is with us as we reach out to those we find in all the areas of our lives. Do we only speak to them because we have to? Do we only serve them because we feel guilty if we don’t? Do we only invest in them because no one else will?   If that is our motivation for the way we engage our community and we do not have the God given desire to serve, those around us will sense this.   And while, yes, a physical need of some kind may be met, they quite possibly will miss the greatest gift of all……the life changing power of Jesus Christ. Let your desire to love and serve them in the name of Jesus come shining through!!!

Next, we must never forget that our mission involves Everyone!!!!   At Christmas time, it seems we open our homes and hearts to all who cross our path.   Certainly we welcome family and friends, then acquaintances as well.   We feel excitement and joy at being able to help the neighbor up the street and even find a peace in helping the stranger whom we’ve never met. If we are capable of this kind of outpouring at Christmas, shouldn’t we continue to live this way throughout the year? Too many times, society depicts who we should and should not help. We must remember that society is not who we have given our lives to. Society is not who inspired the words by which we should be living. Society is not who we are to be representing. It is God and God alone that we have trusted with our lives and it is God who we are to listen and follow. Does everyone in your world know that your heart and life belongs to Him?

And finally, we must be Available. During the holiday season, we make special efforts to invite friends and family to our homes, make long overdue phone calls and visits to old friends. Oh, that we would continue that trend as the year goes by. The lonely spouse that is aching for conversation…..the co-worker who feels he/she has been abandoned by the world and is just waiting for someone to care……..the confused teenager who, though he/she doesn’t show it, is longing for guidance and advice…….the disabled grandmother up the street that is caregiver for her five grandchildren and doesn’t know where the next meal will come from……the person sitting beside you on the bus, train or airplane, that secretly prays for someone to simply listen.   These are real life examples of people I have met just within the past few months. They are around us, they are near us, sometimes, they are us!!!! May we, as God’s people, be available as His hands and feet wherever we find ourselves. And as we share the spirit of Christmas year round, we will discover that we have truly cultivated an environment of missions in which God can work!!!! 

Serving together,

Larry