by Madelynn Keselburg on November 15, 2023
Most know the names and the stories of Abraham, Moses, David, Mary, or Peter. All these people God used to fulfill His purpose of reconciliation to the World through His Son, Jesus Christ. I would challenge that they weren’t any more special than other people, they were ordinary people that had extraordinary faith and willingness to obey what God has called them to. And I believe all of us have the same potential to be used by God for His purpose for our lives and for others, we just have to be willing.
In Acts 8:26-31 it shares a story of Phillip who does just that,
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”
The reality is the Holy Spirit is always at work and He wants to use ordinary people to participate. We have to put ourselves in a position to be used for God’ purpose. Phillip was listening when the angel of the Lord said, “Rise and go…” Are we listening? Phillip them went to where God called him to go and then went further to walk by the chariot. Are we willing to go and then maybe go further?
One way to go is to join a Short-Term Mission Trip team in 2024. Going on a trip allows you to be fully dependent on God and allows you to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Jesus’ last words before His ascension in Matthew 28:19-20 are, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is not just for some to obey but a collective responsibility for all of us.
We have a variety of options for every person to engage in Missions. From serving right in our own backyard to going across the pond to serve an unreached area. Applications will open Nov 1 and close Dec 31.
