But I've never heard this at church...

My student looked up from the papers I had given her.  With her missions trip only two days away, I hoped to empower her to take Christ to Honduras.  But something was bothering her.

I could see her trying to square the words on the pages in front of her with the rest of her Christian experience.

"But I've never heard this at church," she said hesitantly.  I could hear in her voice a combination of frustration, fear, and excitement.

"I know," I said, shaking my head.  "I know.  Most churches never teach this.  Ninety-nine percent of churches don't mention or even think of anything like it.  And yet this is what we're all supposed to be doing."

The purpose of my student's trip was twofold: to bring medical care to the Hondurans, and to construct a church building.  Both of these are noble, loving, and practical projects.  I have no doubt that the Hondurans are both thankful, and better off, because 20 members of my student's church took the time and money to come and work hard for a week.

But I wonder: what will happen when the team leaves and flies back to America?  In a year, or 10 years, how many Hondurans will be Christians because of this one missions trip?  What lasting impact will this team make?  Will they empower the Hondurans to take the gospel of Christ to their lost family members and neighbors?

Thank God for anyone who does anything to promote Christ anywhere in the world.  Thank God for even a little step that someone takes to encourage, comfort, or shelter those whose physical needs have not been met, or who is sick or injured.

But what does Jesus say outreach should look like?  What does the early church show us about our job as believers?  Do we see these ideals demonstrated in church today, or on the streets, where they belong?

I talked with my student about what disciples do, showing her one part of her own purpose as a believer in Christ.  I led her through sharing the gospel with someone--anyone--and leading that person to Christ.  I showed her how to minister God's healing power to anyone, anywhere--power that produces immediate results, cures pain and diseases, prolongs or even restores life, and makes large numbers of people ask "How did this miracle happen?"

I prayed with her before she left, asking God to make her bold, and to show His love and power through her in that distant land.

She went home to pack, encouraged and empowered.  Was she scared?  Probably so.  But now she had some tools that she'd never known about before--tools that would not only arm her against fear in a foreign environment, but also change people, cities, and nations.  More importantly, she had a purpose for going.

And she had thought that her job as a Christian was to attend church, give offerings, and go to camp every summer.

The church at large has been lied to.  We've believed those lies, and we've been blinded to the truth.

If you ask average preachers what their job is, Jesus would probably shake His head at their response.

If you ask average preachers to tell the gospel story, many cannot do it.

And if you ask average believers what their job is, it is alarming how few actually know, and of those, how few are actually doing it.

Most Christians feel satisfied after church on Sunday, thinking they've done their job when they go to lunch with their families..  What they don't realize is that they've only attended practice.  The real game began the minute they left the church and went back out into the world.

This blog is about being ready for the game; playing the game, knowing we can't lose; and winning the game.  It's about being coached by the Coach who sees and knows all, and who works through us to achieve the already-won victory of Christ over evil and death, in which we celebrate, even before the clock runs out.  I pray that by reading this, you will come to know God, and keep knowing Him better and better.  I pray that this writing will empower you to learn who you are, to treasure what God has given you, and to take the good news of Christ, both in word and in power, to everyone you encounter. Blessings to you!