But I Can't Go This Summer
By Pat Conley
November 23, 2004
"BUT I CAN'T GO THIS SUMMER..."
Have you taken the time and expended the effort to discern God's will in that decision?
While college students are adults and are empowered to make decisions on their own, the response of many when initially hearing of missions projects is: "Not me!" [Pat says: that was my response!] or at least, "Not now!" In actuality, this response is often born out of fear (or at least uneasiness)—of fund-raising, of traveling, of cross-cultural interaction, of witness—or out of a blind commitment to the plans already formed in one's head, instead out of a desire to do the will of God.
Discerning the will of God about such things is never an exact science, but it should include, at minimum: Scripture study and meditation (e.g., Scripture has much to say about both fear (Psalm 23:4, Romans 8:14-17) and blind commitment to our own plans (Proverbs 19:21, James 4:13-17), individual and corporate prayer around the issue, and counsel from a community of faith and wisdom (including your local InterVarsity staff worker).
If you still arrive at the above decision, read on…
Being a missionary supporter at home
If you've come to the godly conclusion that you cannot go on a mission project this summer, here are some things to do to help spur those around you on to love and good deeds…and mission projects!
- encourage those who are going (or encourage one or two friends to consider going)
- offer to form a prayer group for those who are going
- help those who are going raise money
- remain in email contact with those who go, to get specific prayer requests
- put together either a journal with encouraging words or a few greeting cards for encouragement for your friends to take with them
- when your friends return, they'll need someone to tell all of their experiences, what they learned, etc. offer to be that person
- check-in with those who go regularly up to 6 months after they return: are they doing OK?
Planning with purpose
If you have chosen to remain at home this summer, but still are desirous of going, begin making plans as soon as you can. Commit to making a mission trip your top priority for next summer. That could mean saving money to account for missing work next summer, beginning to put together a potential donor list, reading books (contact your project's director), applying early, and lots of prayer for the people you'll be meeting.
In addition, think about ways you can integrate a missions mindset into your chapter.
