Mission Vision

Well this week the subject has been mission. Ever since I was young I knew that God was calling me to cross-cultural mission. I just didnt know vision.

I never felt comfortable in New Zealand I actually at times hated my New Zealand Pakeha culture and have felt ashamed to be European. God has helped me to see that yes there are parts of my culture which i should be proud of and there are parts that i should not be proud of. There are only two cultures in this world that of the Kingdom of God (Biblical culture) and that of the Kingdom of the World all cultures have elements of both of these. He has restored me view of mission from being full-time unpaid ministry¨to anything where we are displaying Gods character in our workplace.

I have an Arts degree, when i was doing my degree and until now i didnt know why i had an Arts degree other than because it was interesting. God has shown me that he directed me in my study and that what i have learnt about teaching, Enlgish, linguistics, history and sociology is very useful in understanding cultures and this is what he wants me to do.

I believe he has shown me that he wants me to go Turkey (or more accuratly the Turkish speaking people) to teach English and display His character to people who have had no experience of God.
Turkey is a very straegic country in the Islamic world because it is attempting to become part of the EU it has freedom of religion by law. Which means that Turkish Muslims are the most accesible to reach, to disciple and to send.
It is also the home to most of the Kurdish people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the world without an autonoumous homeland 30 million in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Im aware that this is not this safest place in the world but we are not called to live safe lives we are called to reach every nation including closed ones. Brother Andrew of Open Doors said ¨There are no closed countries if we are prepared to go in and not come out¨ I think that God wants to me to prepare ¨to go in and not come out¨. God will use my life (including my death if neccessary) for His glory. I also have the advantage that as an English teacher i can go where other Christians are unable to get Visas etc.

He has given me this i need to do before i go to Turkish people but more on that later.
This is a long term vision but it is one that i am commited to.
There was a group of Christians called the Moravians from the modern Czech Republic. They where committed to prayer and mission. When a young man around my age sold himself into slavery in order to reach the slaves he was asked by his mother why?
His response is also my response to the same question:
¨That the lamb may recieve the reward for his suffering¨
Jesus died for the sins of the world not just the sins of Christians.
His death and suffering were for all the world. He has paid the price for the redemption of all the world. Im commited to serving him in being part of the Holy Spirit bringing people to that redemption.

Love you all