Why should a church do mission trips?  Well, I suppose the best answer is the biblical one and it is simply that a church going to others with the gospel of Jesus in locations other than their own backyard is the heart and soul of what missions really is all about.  A church that is not sending people out to the world simply does not really love the world nor the God who gave His one and only Son to this world that He loves.  Now this does not mean for a minute that every person in every church ought to go on a mission trip nor does it mean that every person ought to serve for a short or long time as a missionary. But some, those who are called out by God for such service, must go. They are compelled to go on these trips.  We could stop here and have all that is needed to legitimize mission teams from local churches going on mission trips.  But I want to go further.

One of the real reasons for going on a mission trip is that we get to see God work in ways that we do not otherwise get to see Him work.  Now this one I cannot explain but I have experienced this truth on every mission trip.  It never fails.  I met on this trip a most interesting man named Brad Williams.  This man is spending eight weeks in Alaska doing mission work.  His wife is a military doctor in Iraq and he is here.  Not back home sulking over his situation or taking some extra income with which he has been blessed to do what brings him pleasure, but spending his money in serving others for the glory of God.  I met a man named Lloyd Price from Tennessee who is here in Alaska for seven weeks.  He asked me the other day, “Pastor Al, do you believe in retirement?”  I said, “no, why would one retire from that which he loves and besides I have all eternity to relax and rest in the presence of God.”  He smiled.  “Good, ” he said, “neither do I; I am 72 with two very bad knees and I want to keep going for God and His Kingdom.” 

God brought us children for the VBS and I saw our ladies be used of God to touch their lives.  I watched Brian work so hard and with such joy and I saw God bring a man from California, a man from North Carolina, and a young man from Georgia to complete our team to give us just what we needed to do the work.  God worked.  We got to see Him work.  That is why we go on mission trips.  Sounds selfish, doesn’t it?  But who does not want to see God work. And we did.  We five tired bodies and refreshed in spirit make our way home beginning on Thursday.  We will see you on Sunday.