Sunday, August 25, 2013

Are Ps67 Mission Trips Different from others?


This is a very good question, one that has often been asked. Many times mission teams return (or prepare to go) and they are asked the question "so what did you do?" or "what are you going to do?" You may, or may not be surprised by the answer. The mentality of "mission trips" varies from person to person, congregation to congregation. There are those that condemn such activities, there are those that view these activities as essential. Rather than getting in to this debate, we hope to educate you some on what we mean by "Mission Trip" with Psalm 67. From the beginning we want to be clear that this is not an exhaustive description. A more detailed description is in the works.

First, though there may be, at times, opportunities for us to "complete projects" as part of a mission team, this is not the focus. PS67 desires to mobilize believers in a "working-learning" environment in a different context (oftentimes cross cultural). The way we do this is accomplished through:
  • Training - Sharing information and providing training opportunities before, during, and after a trip. Much of this is offered online so that there is access to people in different regions. While you are serving on a mission team, each day will include training, discussion, and prayer as a team. For instance, this December, team members will be reading through Dietrich Bonheoffer's "Life Together" and discussing elements of Christian community, prayer, worship, and witness. Members from the US will read this in English while those in Mexico will be provided a copy in Spanish. Training will be conducted in bi-lingual group meetings.
  • Fellowship of Believers - Much emphasis is placed on living and working within the global Christian community. Our team members are challenged and encouraged to connect with our brothers and sisters that live in another culture. We share the work and we work with them, not instead of them. They lead, we walk along side of them.
In a real sense, one who partners with us for a mission trip, like the one in December, enters in to a "learning while serving" covenant with others. Yes, we go to serve, but your participation in one of these opportunities would look more like a "living cross-cultural discipleship classroom." We desire to be more specific in the future. For now, please pray for us. We have a big task set before us this December. We need others to join with us. We have some openings for those who would like to work with us in going. We need others to "hold the rope" by contributing to this effort.

May Jesus be glorified in Northern Mexico, and around the world,

Psalm 67 Missions Networ

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