I was a high school senior when I first travelled “across the pond.”  I went with the local community college’s choral program on tour to Great Britain.  I was barely 18 when we entered the Greenwich Navel Academy to attend church and take communion.  As we toured different cathedrals and churches, I was struck by the age of the buildings.  Most of the structures were older than our entire country.  The walls held secrets that told the story of years gone by.  My first trip”across the pond” was educational and memorable.

Today, I’m getting on an airplane traveling back “across the pond.”  It has been sixteen years since I’ve been to London and my purpose for traveling is certainly different this time.  I have no intent of standing in the square in Bath and singing for the villagers passing by as I did so many years ago.  However, those villagers are the reason I’m going.  I’m boarding a plane today because those villagers need Jesus.

I’m going on a trip across the ocean to be a light to a very lost nation.  The churches and cathedrals I once sang in are now empty.  The structures that hold great history are now missing out on a great God.  So, I’m going far from my Bible-believing, comfortable home into the metropolitan of London which is now considered a post-Christian nation with churches on every corner hollow of worshipers.

[Tweet “The structures that hold great history are now missing out on a great God. “]

As I consider the spiritual state of our country’s ally, I have to consider the spiritual state of our own nation.  The United States of America is in need of Jesus.  We have church buildings across our nation that are slowly dwindling in population.  So, why am I going?  Why don’t I just stay and attend to the “mission” here.  The need is great here too–so why go?

I’m going because I’m called, not as a minister but as a believer.  I’m called to go because I’m a believer.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,–Matthew 28:19a

My husband preached on this topic a couple of weeks ago and I was reminded–I’m called to live on mission not just go on mission trips.  On mission trips we set apart intentional time to share Jesus with those we come in contact with.  That is also what we’re called to do in our every day lives.

It is similar to how we treat family vacation.  We love to take our kids on trips to see their grandparents, travel along for a conference or to see Mickey Mouse.  However, family vacation is not the only time we spend with our kids.  Family vacation doesn’t replace the on-going relationship we have in our family.  In fact, family vacation compliments what is already taking place in our day-to-day lives.

Mission trips are much the same way.  Mission trips are a natural extension of a life lived on mission right where we are.

So, what does that look like?  How do we “live on mission” in our day-to-day?  Here are a few practical ideas (partially in courtesy to Jared Allen‘s sermon):

• Ask your server at a restraunt how you can pray for them before praying for your food.
• Take advantage of the time you have with your hair dresser making conversation to bring up God or your church
• Take a lost coworker out to lunch…not to preach to them but to build a relationship that could lead to a conversation about Jesus.

These are just a few examples but the point is to be intentional.  Look for ways to turn the conversation to God and strive to live in a way that reflects who God is.  That’s living on mission.  It’s as you go along your day to day.

[Tweet “I’m called to go because I’m a believer.”]

[Tweet “I’m called to live on mission not just go on mission trips”]

Question: What are some practical ways you’ve seen or used to live on mission?  I’d love to hear your ideas.