Candice's Comments

A year ago, when we started serious planning for the Mission Trip to Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries in Los Fresnos, Texas, it seemed so far off. Now it is only two weeks off. (We leave June 7!)

With the leadership of Luci Collins, it’s been a year of praying and preparing. It’s been a year of fish fries and taco dinners. It’s been a year of Bible study and applying for grants and selling t-shirts. It’s been a year of growing from six individuals into a mission team.

The Detroit Mission Team has also been planning and praying and raising funds for their July 28 – August 3 trip. Jeff Kerns has provided the leadership for this team.

Why do mission? And why is the Pentecost spirit of mission burning in us just now?

Isaiah 58:6-12 says:

Is not this the fast that I choose: 
to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; 
your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, 
then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places,

and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.  Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

Isaiah doesn’t say someone else should feed the hungry or clothe the naked or break the chains of injustice. Isaiah says this is what God wants us to do! We are to get in there and do it ourselves!

Isaiah also lists several promises: we will be like a watered garden, light shall shine, God will be present and hear us, we shall repair and restore.

As these two mission teams go forth in the name of Jesus Christ, and with the blessing and prayers of Capitol Hill Christian Church, let us celebrate the Pentecost Spirit of mission which is within us. May the work fulfill God’s promises. May the workers be faithful. May God be present within us!

In the Pentecost Spirit of Mission,

Candice