Mission team reflections

"Our hope is not in who governs us, or what laws are passed, or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people." - Chuck Colson

I remembered this old quote as I thought back on last week, looked at pictures, and replayed conversations. The mission team did some extraordinary things in Fort Wayne - washed car seats, put up a fence, taught kids to swim, pushed children on swings, played soccer, handed out chips and icy pops, prayed for families, shared food with people of many nations. This may not seem significant to some... but it played a powerful role in every individual who was involved.

Our government is still figuring out how to handle refugees, assylum seekers, and undocumented immigrants. "Red-blooded Americans" still have a hard time knowing how they feel and how they should respond to the diversity in color, language, religion, and ways of life that continue to move in to our cities and neighborhoods. It seems that we all have our own concerns, complaints, solutions, and proposals about this matter. And yet, in the midst of all the debates and uncertainties, immigrants continue to come in to the country.

How will we respond? What would Jesus do?

I think he would wash car seats, and teach kids to swim. I think he'd play soccer and eat chips and icy pops. I think he would do all the things our mission team did - he would engage in conversations around big picnic tables and delve into relationships in the most humble of homes and love on purpose. His love is strong, powerful, wonderful, and able to break through ever barrier our society and human nature puts up. Truth and peace and joy can be found in his love. Our mission team expressed that love every day for a week, and had more of an impact on the natoins of the world in Fort Wayne, Indiana, than any government bill or activist group ever could. Because whenever people experience the love of Christ, they are changed, and will never be the same.