Picture this; you’re going to travel for the next nine months or so with some people that you don’t know. You might be staying in one place the whole time (First Year Missionaries) or traveling and moving every few weeks (World Race). Either way, it’s going to be stressful and you’re not going to get away from any of your teammates unless one of you quits. In Christian terms, this is called “Community” and it’s the latest rage (more on this tongue-in-cheek statement later).
What do you do? You can’t just go out and expect that everything is going to be peachy. We all have baggage/issues/sins/coping mechanisms that we bring to the table. Out in the field, those things get magnified. Little irritations get huge. People can (and do) implode under the pressure; they’re under constant spiritual attack, they’re a long way from home and in a culture that they’re not used to. They don’t get enough sleep, aren’t used to the food, and travel all the time.
On top of all this, they will see the world as it really is. They will see poverty, hurt, despair, death, spiritual warfare, healings, joy, prostitution, lands ravaged by war, AIDS, abandoned children. They will see the hand of the enemy and the glorious love of Jesus. Throughout it all, they will have this small band of people they are starting to bond with here in Gainesville, Georgia. So, you can see the importance of starting their relationships off on the right foot.
Today, I sat in a training session where the Racers were walking around to different stations, building/writing a book about themselves. They wrote about their church, how they communicate and how they view themselves in general. Then, they had to share in a small group. In the interest in clarity, this wasn’t a “here’s what I’m good at” kind of exercise. It was more of a “here’s the baggage I’m carrying. I think it might cause trouble with the team. Would you help me deal with this?” kind of exercise. They opened themselves up to others and were vulnerable to people who were, in reality, still strangers. All so they could more effectively serve God.
Would you be willing to do that? Would you be willing to go to someone in your/our church and say “I have trouble coping with my anger. I’m struggling with pornography. My wife and I aren’t getting along. I need help. Would you help me?” Are you willing to empty your life of the baggage you carry so that you can more effectively serve God? Is your pride or fear holding you back? Have you asked God what he wants you to do? Are you afraid to ask because he might actually answer?
