OUR OWN BACKYARD

One does not always need to go to Eastern Europe, Africa or South America to go into ‘ministry’ or ‘missions work.’ Maybe just riding a city bus all over town with our eyes wide open would be enough (an all-day unlimited bus pass in our city is two dollars). Perhaps taking our laundry to a local Laundromat and interfacing with the crowd. Or maybe just visit an old people’s nursing home. I think to go three thousand miles to help somebody know Jesus and bring them food and supplies and help them build a concrete block church building might be an escape from the needs in our own backyard (though some do need to go ‘over there’). It is like it’s a big deal if someone is going to Buenos Aires but its not significant if they are going to Bakersfield, Boise, Baton Rouge or Baltimore.

Try raising funding and personal support for these local mission trips. Ha, Ha. But if a person is going to Bangkok it is another matter. (I have been on both sides of this ‘going somewhere’ presentation… so I know)

We must now realize, like never before, that the United States is one of the most desperate and degraded societies in the world. We also must know that people from many nations are sending many teams to try and evangelize and help us change this country from its own destruction. Perhaps one day these brothers and sisters will come and help us lay some concrete blocks and put up sheet metal roofs and purify our water and re-make our schools and cities.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus