“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore WE OUGHT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE THESE, THAT WE MAY BE FELLOW WORKERS FOR THE TRUTH.
-3 John 5-8
The often neglected New Testament book of 3 John depicts the Apostle John writing to encourage a man named Gaius, who has apparently been faithfully hosting and sending on traveling missionaries who have come through his city. John commends Gaius for this practice and exhorts him to continue so that he can be a “fellow worker for the truth.” This seems to be a rather lofty title for someone who is simply opening up his home and being hospitable to brothers in need, yet John labels Gaius without hesitation.
So what does this have to do with our College Spring Break Mission Trip to South Dakota? This text is important to me as I reflect on our trip for two reasons:
1) The family that hosted us (Stan & Diana Bricker) was absolutely wonderful. They are empty-nesters who bought a five-bedroom house so that they could host mission teams and other “fellow workers” coming through their area. Our team learned so much from them about what it looks like to live faithful lives doing what God has called you to do. The Brickers’ ministry is very similar to Gaius’. They don’t have fancy titles or hold lofty positions, yet they are using what God has given them to faithfully serve His church and bring Him glory.
2) The other reason I think of Gaius when I think about our trip is because of what we actually did as a team while we were there. We prayed. We met local pastors. We tried to encourage them. And then we prayed some more. It’s hard to make a lot of great “mission trip testimonies” out of that. And that’s my point.
Our work in South Dakota was largely thankless and unnoticeable. The cities of the Black Hills are not all that different now that our team has returned to Bowling Green. Our work was humbling and trying, not because it was difficult, but because it provided so little visible results.
Here is where the example of Gaius is both challenging and inspiring. Did he host missionaries because it brought him fame? Did cleaning dishes and re-ordering his house after their departure feel like ministry? Probably not. And yet he is called a “fellow worker for the truth.”
It’s amazing and humbling to think about how God uses small acts of faithfulness (like praying for hurting pastors, hosting hungry college students, and welcoming traveling missionaries) to bring glory to His Name, even when it doesn’t bring glory to ours. May we always be faithful to the Lord and all the good works He prepares in advance for us to do, whether they are big or small in our eyes.
-3 John 5-8
The often neglected New Testament book of 3 John depicts the Apostle John writing to encourage a man named Gaius, who has apparently been faithfully hosting and sending on traveling missionaries who have come through his city. John commends Gaius for this practice and exhorts him to continue so that he can be a “fellow worker for the truth.” This seems to be a rather lofty title for someone who is simply opening up his home and being hospitable to brothers in need, yet John labels Gaius without hesitation.
So what does this have to do with our College Spring Break Mission Trip to South Dakota? This text is important to me as I reflect on our trip for two reasons:
1) The family that hosted us (Stan & Diana Bricker) was absolutely wonderful. They are empty-nesters who bought a five-bedroom house so that they could host mission teams and other “fellow workers” coming through their area. Our team learned so much from them about what it looks like to live faithful lives doing what God has called you to do. The Brickers’ ministry is very similar to Gaius’. They don’t have fancy titles or hold lofty positions, yet they are using what God has given them to faithfully serve His church and bring Him glory.
2) The other reason I think of Gaius when I think about our trip is because of what we actually did as a team while we were there. We prayed. We met local pastors. We tried to encourage them. And then we prayed some more. It’s hard to make a lot of great “mission trip testimonies” out of that. And that’s my point.
Our work in South Dakota was largely thankless and unnoticeable. The cities of the Black Hills are not all that different now that our team has returned to Bowling Green. Our work was humbling and trying, not because it was difficult, but because it provided so little visible results.
Here is where the example of Gaius is both challenging and inspiring. Did he host missionaries because it brought him fame? Did cleaning dishes and re-ordering his house after their departure feel like ministry? Probably not. And yet he is called a “fellow worker for the truth.”
It’s amazing and humbling to think about how God uses small acts of faithfulness (like praying for hurting pastors, hosting hungry college students, and welcoming traveling missionaries) to bring glory to His Name, even when it doesn’t bring glory to ours. May we always be faithful to the Lord and all the good works He prepares in advance for us to do, whether they are big or small in our eyes.
Matt Haste
1 comment:
Matt, I am very grateful for your posting. It truly reminds me of that missionary spirit for both you and your team and the Brickers. I am privileged and honored to work with such a fine group. There is much that you guys did that will go unnoticed by the world, but will be remembered for eternity by the Father. Thank you for all that you did and may our GOD bless you and your team both through you and in you. Hope to see you soon
Buck
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