A lunch with Lori Engle over Thai food and a list of South Park Church global missionaries started it all-youth missions. Two words, that when joined together can be a force to reckon. My excitement continued when Bob directed me to Todd and Stephanie Edgar on our list. The Edgar’s are a young, vivacious couple serving in Peru with South American Missions. Two more words surfaced-role models. Todd uses his professional gifts (airplane mechanic) and hobbies (motor biking) to be God’s aroma to Peruvians.
One of the reasons I was hired as the Associate Youth Director was because of my passion for global missions. Many people wonder, “Why don’t we serve locally?” To that I answer, we have and we do. However, there are three reasons why I believe international youth missions deeply impacts the spiritual growth of a young believer.
1)Helps teens experience God as the creator of every tribe, tongue and ethnos. As we experience the beauty of diversity, we intimately learn more about the God we serve. As we learn about the people he has created, we learn about his heartbeat for the nations. (Psalm 96) In my experience of traveling to 13 different countries and working alongside Asian believers, European believers and African believers; one of my greatest joys is that I’ve experienced the God of the Nations. Global missions gives us that opportunity to experience a taste of heaven here on earth.
2) Global youth missions allows teens to get out of their comfort zones. Sometimes we all need a jolt out of the hamster wheel of our own culture. We see God as “the God of America.” A God that we like to place in our Happy Meal Box. I believe that through global missions we get the opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and experience the wild side of God. And no He does not act according to our script. I’ve learned I’m not in control, rather my Sovereign Lord is. He wants to stretch me by trusting Him even in quirky, unique situations like humbling me to relearn how to go to the bathroom. (Literally, NOT every culture has the porcelain throne!) One of the ways I’m praying students learn to trust God is in the area of finances. Many of our students are too young to earn/raise the money for this trip on their own. I am hoping that their fundraising will be a milestone for them, seeing God as provider for His purposes. One that will strengthen them as they grow into adulthood.
3) Youth missions allows teens to become more keenly aware of the nations residing in their homeland. I believe that when you have gotten out of your comfort zone…really out of it, it makes you more compassionate. Let me explain. When in high school before my first mission trip, my parents had exchange students living in our home. To be honest I hated them for it. I was embarrassed when I was out in my friends and I saw our exchange students not being able to order a drink. Oh, how the Lord humbled me, when i was in Indonesia incapable of doing the same. I propose that the Lord uses our experiences in other cultures to soften our prideful heart. He desires us to move toward compassion, recognizing what is all around us…the people He loves from every tribe, tongue and nation. People He desires to know Him!
These are a few of the reasons, as the Associate Youth Director, I am excited and honored that the Lord has given my husband and I, the opportunity to lead our first youth mission trip at South Park Church. Please join us in the journey and Pray for Peru 2009!
Deborah Kaminsky
