The college I attended has a saying...
The sun never sets on our alumni.
Since the days the school opened its doors, Ozark Christian College has prepared and sent graduates literally around the world. Now my daughters are enrolled there, taking a class led by the head of the missions' department. After several years serving the Lord in Chile, he decided that he could multiply his work by devoting his time preparing others.
As our team was meeting this past Sunday, Natasha whispered to me that she had some notes from Professor Chris Dewelt's class that would be helpful to us. I ask her to summarize those thoughts for us to contemplate in these final days before our departure.
Let's start by thinking about the ultimate goal of our trip. Are we going to feed a few people? care for some of their medical needs? fix a roof for someone who needs better shelter? We are going to do those things, but are they the ultimate reason for our trip?
Professor Dewelt suggests that the ultimate goal of every missions effort is WORSHIP. God deserves the praise of every single person on the face of the earth. Motivated by our own devotion to the Lord, we are moved to serve His purpose by serving the needs of His creation. God is praised through that service, and God is praised as we worship. And ultimately we hope people will be drawn to worship the Lord as a result of our service.
In Natasha's notes, Professor Dewelt says it this way:
Missions begins in worship, is cultivated by worship, and terminates in worship.
We do hope that people will praise God because we go to Honduras. But that is ultimately their choice. We plan to serve either way. And God will be glorified!
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