Focus on the Mission - Peru 2010

The mission team went to worship in two different Churches this morning (June 27th). Dr. Tolbert led half the team to the Church where he was preaching, and I led the other half of the team to Iglesia Bautista de el Tambo (The Baptist Church of the Tambo). The “Tambo” is the neighborhood or area of town where the Church is located. This is the same as Woodland Park Baptist Church which got its name because of the old Woodland Park area of Hammond where the Church was originally located, if my understanding is correct. Or, you might think of something like First Baptist Church of New Orleans which shows that the Church is named after the city in which it is located.


Well, when we arrived at the Church, this is what we saw on the outside (see left). It’s a tall Church with about four or five stories! But when we entered the auditorium for worship, this is what we saw in huge colored letters centered on the wall behind the stage (see below).

You probably don’t need to know very much Spanish to translate this message. It simply says, “Go and make disciples.”

Wow! What a reminder for us to stay focused on our mission. This is Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. But please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that this is a reminder for our mission team to stay focused on our mission in Peru this week. No, indeed. I’m saying that this is a reminder to every Believer to stay focused on Christ’s mission every single day of their lives regardless of what our geographical location happens to be!

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Life is a short-term mission trip. It’s “short-term” because our life is only a mist (James 4:14), and it’s all a “mission trip” because everything about our lives ought to be centered on advancing God’s Kingdom by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:24) through all of our works (Matthew 5:16) and words (1 Peter 3:15-16) to the glory of our heavenly Father (1 Corinthians 10:31). In fact, it's been well-noted the the verbal form Jesus uses to begin His Great Commission could or should be translated, "As you are going, make disciples."

So let’s stay focused on the mission today and every day whether we're at home or abroad (Philippians 1:21; Colossians 1:28-29)!