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| The India YES team consists of José Diaz, Tim Martin, Gabriella Pabellón, and Heidi Fishburn. |
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Counting the cost in missions
Four young people experienced the world of cross-cultural missions on the 2005-2006 India Youth Evangelism Service team. Following is their final weblog/newsletter post from India, from July 6.
Missions involves sacrifice. I’m not talking about what the YES team has given up or suffered during our time in India. I’m referring to the Indian missionaries with whom we are living and working. Most of the servants who are ministering with Pocket Testament League India are missionaries. Many have moved many miles from their southern state of Kerala to enter the ministry. When the team had a chance to visit their home state last month, I was struck by the number of “comforts” they have chosen to give up.
As the team finished our trip to the south and stepped off the train at the Delhi station, the wave of heat struck us by surprise. The vast differences of the south and the north became so much more apparent. Kerala: “God’s Own Country” is a lush, beautiful land with an almost tropical climate. The vegetation and gorgeous flowers make it a paradise for birds and other animals. The cool night often arrives with a fresh, renewing breeze. Not so in Delhi.
I realized in a greater way how much the Indian Christians have sacrificed by leaving their beautiful Kerala to minister in Delhi. Paul’s radical statement in Philippians 3:7-8 comes to mind. “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”
May we, too, realize that knowing Christ Jesus and making him known is the greatest profit. And may we be empowered to consider all else loss compared to him.
You can read more of Heidi, Gaby, José, and Tim from their interesting and fun blog posts here >>.
Mark your calendar for EMM’s next short-term commissioning event on September 3. Also, if you know young people who may be interested in a cross-cultural mission service term that begins in January 2007, visit the EMM short term website.
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