Reflections on Outreach Experiences

I participated in my very first mission trip through World Encounter. I went to a children’s home in Tepic, Mexico that houses about 30 children and spent the most amazing, eye opening, life changing week of my life loving the little kids that live there. I fell in love with Mexico, the people and the culture and mostly the children at the orphanage. They stole my heart and every day I think of them and can’t wait to go back!

—Amy B. (Casa de Niños Team)

I knew that getting to know the kids would be fun and rewarding—and it was. But what surprised me most was the incredible relationships I formed with the adults (and teens), both on the team and with staff at the Casa. I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt so welcomed and comfortable with a group of people. I am anxious to go back to the Casa soon!

—Karen B. (Casa de Niños Team)

Five days in urban reality—what an experience! Just a 20-minute drive from my suburban existence took me into another world—a place where hope and desperation exist side by side. The needs and challenges in the city are significant. We saw much in those five days, and met some truly amazing and inspiring individuals. I believe we’ve been challenged in a deep way by this experience, and we’ll not see our city through the same eyes as before. The world is shrinking and the mission field is near.

—Steve G. (The Master’s Institute Seminary, Inner-City Outreach)

One of the highlights of the year at The Master’s Institute is our missions trip to central Mexico. [I learned that] God doesn’t need much to build his church. This was one of those “revelations” that I should have realized long ago just from reading the New Testament. What God needs to build his church are men and women of God. That’s all. Humility and faith build the Kingdom. We heard testimonies of men and women who had experienced persecution while pioneering the Christian faith in their villages. They saw their friends attacked and one murdered. Yet there was love, forgiveness, steadfast faith, humility—and the gospel message.

—Tom L. (The Master’s Institute Seminary, International Outreach)

I definitely came away more enriched and am thankful for the opportunity to get to know others in Christ, both those from the US and in Mexico. I will cherish these memories forever, and look forward to the next opportunity to go again.

—Scott T. (Casa de Niños Team)

We didn’t just “learn” a lot — we “lived” a lot!

—Fritz (The Master’s Institute Inner-city Outreach)

I was convicted and humbled…I think I have become addicted to this kind ministry.

—Tom S. (The Master’s Institute Inner-city Outreach)

What surprised me most was the incredible relationships I formed with the adults and teens, both on the team and on the staff at the Casa. I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt so welcome and comfortable with a group of people. Truly, one of the highlights of the trip was the bond I felt with the rest of the group. I am anxious to go back to the Casa soon!

—Karen B. (Casa de Niños Team)

At the end of the week, one of the little boys came and hugged me. Wiping the tears from his face, he kissed me on the cheek, and walked away. That one little moment changed my whole perspective as a servant. That was my reward. I knew I was appreciated. I had been waiting for some huge revelation to blow me away and make me a totally new person in an instant. But it turned out to be so simple.

—Rebecca O. (Casa de Niños Team)

I went to be a blessing. However, the one going to bless became the one that was blessed.

—Matthew B. (Casa de Niños Team)

………………………………………………………………

Reflections on Cross Cultural Ministry Course

The class helped me realize that “missions” is simply a word we use to define the deliberate sharing of the gospel that takes plane tickets, planning, and lots and lots of prayer. Missions is God’s heart.

What I LOVED About the Course

* Learning the history of the world Christian movement.

* Discussions about cultural differences and how Americans can use their position to serve and witness…

* The synopsis and bios of people groups—this was a break through for me. I wept over the fact that out of four and a half million Baluch people “there are only ten known Baluch Christians in the world. I was shocked at the reality of those four million, four hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety people…

I am so thankful that God was able to reveal more of Himself to me through the training.

—Abigail C.

There’s nothing “light” about this course. It’s amazingly rich in content, packing a huge amount of relevant information into just a few weeks. Each class featured a speaker with extensive experience in various mission fields. And these hands-on perspectives really brought the course materials to life. Granted, the harvest is plentiful and the workers few — but the course showed that reaching all nations with the good news isnot only acievable, it’s something we can all take part in. Is there any greater endeavor?

—Mike P.

I just wanted to thank you for making the Perspectives Light class such an enlightening and growing experience. It has really helped me to focus my goals for our ministry in Liberia. This class really helped me see that it’s about training up their generation to be influential, Christian leaders in their tribes, communities, and society. That’s exciting! Perspectives Light also provided some guidance as to how to go about reaching people from every tribe, tongue, and nation — being relevant all the while. Thank you, thank you!

—Whitney W.

Perspectives Light was a great eye-opener for me! As a member of our church missions board, this course has forced me to re-evaluate how we allocate our resources.

—Dave K.