Every Christian has at least one of these. Many have several of them.
Jesus told His disciples to go out and make more disciples. Where did He send them?
Into their mission field.
Our adult fellowship held communion last Sunday. It was a memorable time as always. At the end a few minutes were spent letting folks share anything on their hearts.
The day before that I was in the George Beto Prison for the Christmas reunion celebration. It was a time to get back together with the inmates we’ve met and influenced. It was just as memorable.
One adult fellowship classmate shared about having some grandkids over. I thought about how that was one of their mission fields. Grandparents have a significant impact on that generation.
Another couple were grateful that her parents are able to spend time with them now after their struggles in getting here from India. Yeah, there’s a point where children can influence their own parents.
Those of us with jobs have fellow employees who watch us. When they see how well we cope with hardships because of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ they’ll eventually want to know how we do it.
That’s a mission field.
While I was at Beto last Saturday I talked to some guys I’ve gotten to know in that mission field. It’s good to hear about their plans for when they get out. They may not know when that day will come but they have hope.
I talked with the guy I interviewed who stood out the most from all of the interviews I had a few months ago. He gave his life to Christ during his Kairos weekend. That’s always great to hear.
He shared with me how he had it all worked out in his head what he was going to say to me so I would include him in that weekend. But when I asked him about his family that all went out the window.
He has no family left that he knows of except maybe an uncle who might still be alive. Before the interview ended he had tears. I held mine inside somehow.
Saturday I asked him when he was getting out. He gave me that deer in the headlights look and said, “I’m never getting out.”
Without hesitating I told him, “Then you know where your mission field is. Most of the guys I interviewed didn’t have a good father growing up. That lack of leadership in their life is a major reason they ended up in this maximum security prison. You have an opportunity to be a father figure to the new guys coming in here.”
I pray he takes my advice and uses it to build God’s kingdom where he’s at.
I hope you do the same thing wherever you find yourself at these days.
Help when you can.
Encourage often.
Give your time to a lonely person.
Pray without ceasing.
Mission fields are everywhere.
Plant hope and watch it grow.
I’ll see you later. Wade
