Från att solen stiger upp
Tills den går ner
Ska vi prisa Herrens namn

From the rising of the sun
To the going down of the same
The name of The Lord is to be praised

My only missionary experience is quite different from the ones I read about on social media. I shared recently my concern over the constantly looped narrative of need our society tells about people of color. I shared also how I wonder if it’s easier to go in for a fixed amount of time and exit rather than engaging in the truly challenging work of the everyday missionary. We’re all called to do it, I might add. Engage in community with our brothers and sisters, to offer resources, meet needs, care for…love.

Yes! We’re all called to the field. In one form or another, as Christians we’re all on a mission.

I travelled to Sweden as part of a missionary team in 2000 and again in 2001. I was part of a very small ministry of amazingly gifted former artists. Dancers, actors, models and singers, this group grew out of a bible study that took place in the theatre district of New York City. In the early fall of 2000 we were sent to Sundsval Sweden to minister to churches in the area. What were we doing there? These people knew Jesus. They had given their hearts and lives to God. There was no obvious area of lack in their lives. So why had God called us?

I was excited to be asked to go but struggled with just why we were going. The church I attended was primarily black and we were headed to Sweden. This was different. Numbed by “facts” born of repetition, somewhere, deep inside, I believed the narrative too. How could “we” help “them”?

Attending the first church service revealed the answer. In these beautiful churches …with the word, a pastor and people….the spirit was dry. Well ventilated sanctuaries were stale, the atmosphere stagnant. All life having been choked out of the service by old traditions and beliefs. The people…long silenced by a veil of feigned decency and order…didn’t move. Parched and dry they needed a drink and we… were sent to water.

I learned God sends the willing. He knows the needs and will send the provision. His ways and thoughts are high and above mine. They transcend the story I’d heard and replaced the usual suspects. He allowed me to see beyond the typical picture of need and take part in an act of His divine grace – with me as a missionary. I love that He did that.

Because many of our needs go unseen and because we often have a hard time recognizing and expressing them, the body of Christ easily suffers misdiagnosis. The gorgeous church with the magnificent choir may be sorely lacking in love. The small storefront my be operating under a spirit of pride. And in Sweden there was a need for revival. The expansion of our perception of need is mandatory. All humanity has a need for a very real God who can be trusted to show up to provide healing, salvation and deliverance …whatever that may look like. He uses the willing servant as His hands and heart on earth. We all have a job to do. We are all on a mission.

We helped release a spirit of freedom in Sweden. By the time we left, congregants were doing the “Electric Slide” in the aisles. Some were clapping to new songs they’d learned and others, realized it was perfectly appropriate to smile in service. They learned to enjoy the fullness of the worship experience.

I’ve wondered since, what service must be like for them now. It was an incredible two weeks and the intensity of the moment made it feel like the change was immediate and forever. But I wonder?? It’s been 12 years…I’m sure time has mellowed their worship and I imagine they’ve put a personal stamp on it that makes it work for them . But I do believe they worship differently. God was glorified and our job was done. Mission accomplished.

And I think of this 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Some plant, some water, but God brings the increase. Amen.

an offering to the communities at Jumping Tandem and The Weekend Brew