In a recent sermon, I read from an old newsletter article of mine. It was from back in 2008. It articulated much of what I wanted to get across in the sermon. I would like to put it in front of you again. So, from the archives of 2008, here you go:

         Imagine for a moment that you are a missionary. Imagine that God called you in particular, with all of your strengths (and weaknesses!), to serve Him in a very particular way. Imagine that no one told you what to do, but rather you sensed something tugging at you, something that would not require you to go back to school or endure a great deal of re-training, but a place where you could make a difference just by being yourself, using the gifts and talents that God has given you.

         Imagine if this mission work was not an abandonment of who you are, but a natural  extension of the person that God has created uniquely in you. Musicians might make music. Builders might build. Teachers might teach. Talkers would talk and listeners would listen. Imagine if you were part of a community that did not try to recruit you for their purposes, but rather encouraged and equipped you for the mission to which God has uniquely called you. Imagine if what we called church became instead “Mission Headquarters.” Imagine if we began to recapture the original meaning of church or ecclesia or “the called out ones.”

         It would be fascinating…and frightening!  It would require a leap of faith. It would require “getting out of the boat.” It would require trust; trust in each other and a might trust in God. Some, of course, would be called to maintain Mission Headquarters so that future generations might be sent out. Others would be inspired to  train up those future   generations in faith and to help them discern their own calling. Still others would be guided to offer care and support to returning (and broken) missionaries. But, many would follow their calling out into the brokenness of this world to use their own gifts to help the light of Christ shine beyond our walls.

         On rare occasions, one or two might feel pulled to far off, exotic locations like Africa or Russia or Alabama, but most would sense a call right here in our own broken part of the world. Imagine for a moment that you are a missionary. Imagine what your  unique mission might be. Imagine your purpose in the eyes of God. Imagine truly being yourself, doing what comes naturally, and knowing that the light of Christ is shining in the dark corners of this world through you. Just imagine.

In Christ,

Kevin T. Hicks