So, here is the story of why the photo is on my blog and why my wife would not like the photo and then some ramblings .....
Roy Almquist said the following: It is painful and a sign of our brokenness, that our synod sends hundreds of gifted, motivated young people on mission trips while our city congregations struggle and our city cries out for mercy.
Roy is a former bishop in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and he was speaking about youth mission trips and service. We are to contemplate on the statement as we get ready to go to the Gathering. We are going there to serve the community of NOLA.
The quote has us question our motives and to take a look at our own backyard, what are we doing for the community around us. There are many hurting and need help and instead of helping them, we head out .....
Why ?
Is there theological ramifications that go with it or does it "really" matter because if you go - you are still out serving - it does not matter where ...
Things to think about .....
So, back to the picture. Why in the world do I have four teenage girls in a bikini jumping at the beach ?
Well, I was doing a search on the former Bishop and trying to get more information and trying to get a better feel of him and the context of his quote. When I did the search, it took me to a church in Pennsylvania and this picture (up above) was the first picture on the churches EASTER web page .....
Anyways, my wife would have gone through the roof if she was on the trip with the church group and all the girls in the group on the beach was in bikinis.
So, this post hit on a few things I guess but if you would, I would like to hear feedback on the quote. I have placed it in a few places to get feedback and the responses have been interesting. Here is the quote:
It is painful and a sign of our brokenness, that our synod sends hundreds of gifted, motivated young people on mission trips while our city congregations struggle and our city cries out for mercy.
2 comments:
I think you have to take the Bishop's quote in context of individual churches.
If ALL you are doing is going on mission trips all over the country then yes I would agree that mission trips are not something that I think congregations should be doing. However, if the youth of the congregation are engaged in a ministry at the church that reaches out to the community then I think mission trips only enhance the ministry of the church.
Too many times however, a church can be engaged in the community but the only time kids might come out to participate in the ministry of the church is when they take a trip around the country then that is another problem all together.
I fully agree with you.
However, I have seen quite a few churches and individuals who are great in drumming up support for a mission trip (especially oversees) but when it comes close to home (they are not around).
I would not want to slam them in the effort beyond because they are working/serving - even if it is because there is a "built-in-vacation".
To me, it really is about us (leaders) engaging the students and do what the former bishop hopes for:
transforming the way we think and speak about service
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