My Journey In Missions & Ministry

"Whatever, Wherever, Whenever. LORD I'm willing"...many years ago, I was challenged to think about these words and commit myself to being available for whatever task that God has for me.A time of wrestling with God followed. I didn't understand why God would call me to give up my career and consider 'full-time ministry'. As a result, I ended up studying at Bible College, a time to follow through with that commitment! Throughout my time at College, my burden for mission became stronger and stronger. I believed that God had called me to promote Christ’s cause by mobilizing a generation into mission. I felt that He had wanted me to be involved with global mission, and I had been working as a mission mobilizer with World Team (a global missionary fellowship that seeks to reach the nations for God's glory), along with working as the the creative arts coordinator / translator / interpretor and worship leader in my church for the last 27 months.

Since then, I felt that I had done quite a bit of 'travelling' in terms of my journey in mission and ministry. To simply put it, I am one of many who constantly grapple with issues related to missions and ministry. God called me to mission through Hudson Taylor's biographies many years ago. Without Hudson Taylor, we Chinese people wouldn't have had the opportunity to hear the gospel. I sensed that God was calling me (as a Chinese person) to 'return the debt' to the nations.

More than four years ago, I attended a Christian arts seminar in Cooma in New South Wales. Michael Frost was the main speaker. That was the first time I'd ever heard of the so called 'alternative ways of being / doing church'. I was blown away and challenged by Mike's messages. I came to know a bit more about the concepts of emerging missional church through study, books and blogs.

I really want to "cast off anything that hinders....", and I start to wonder if "church systems or programmes" do hinder more than help in terms of missional efforts in God's Kingdom. They're not evil or necessarily wrong in themselves, but God's attitude towards us is not based on how well you've fit into the church structure (as some believe so). I think 'sacred space' doesn't have to be within the four walls of the church buildings. As a friend of mine said, "Non churched people could actually teach the Church a thing or two about building community, generosity and making a difference in the world we live in. " More and more I think sharing and living out the Gospel in everyday language and in the natural rhythms of life would have more impact than just working in the church office. Mission is really about asking 'what is God doing around me' and then seeking ways to join in those things. That is my intention and my prayer. The process of grappling and wrestling with all of the baggage I put on myself, and the church's role in this has been going on for the last couple of years in my journey.

Hence moving back from being a full time paid Christian worker to a different journey is not beyond question. I must admit though that I am on a crossroad, and still haven't made up my mind......

Tell me oh Lord how You want me to live Your life.....