Trinity Mission has two thrift stores in Crawfordsville and Lafayette. They sell donated items to raise money for programming to help men restore their lives. It’s in their mission statement to share the loving grace of Jesus with men who have been on drugs, alcohol or been in prison. They want to transform lives and I’m happy to be a part of it. I donated at the back door Saturday and went in the front door to purchase (doesn’t seem to make sense to me)!
You know mission statements have been around forever it seems like. Companies work together at retreats or board rooms to come up with a “mission statement” about their company. I am not talking about a “vision statement” because that is altogether different. Most every company has one and if you Google the company name you will find their mission statement. It will try to sum up what the company is all about and what is their driving purpose in business.
It just occurred to me that we can also have a mission statement. Do you have a life philosophy or statement that drives your life? You probably do you may or may not know it. The way to get to it, in my opinion, is to traverse the 18 inches from head to heart! The mission/plan/purpose God has for you will be what “lights” up your heart, what you are passionate about, and what drives you. We are way too analytical stuck in our heads when God works through and with the heart! Follow your heart, as they say, and you will be in touch with God’s will in your life. Last week I had dinner with an Aunt and cousin. The aunt had volunteered in the community for over 30 years after raising her kids. She said simply “I just try to give back!” That was her mission…to give back. You and I may have different ones, but if you think about it most of them circle back to sharing the love of God with one another.
In our personal mission statements as we serve and are active in our church or community group we are sharing God’s love. When you volunteer you are helping others, when you donate (and purchase!) you are helping others, when you give of your time you are serving and helping others.
Jesus was very clear about this saying “I did not come to be served, but to serve..” (Matthew 20:28).
Do you have a personal mission statement? Why not start today? Do you know your local Secretariat mission statement? Here is the National Lutheran Secretariat mission statement: By grace, with the Holy Spirit, we challenge leaders to discover and achieve their personal calling, assisting them to influence their environments with the Gospel.
As we enter another week of serving and loving the Lord let us serve and help one another. It’s the best way to show the love of God and that’s a great mission for us.
God Bless,
Pr. Doug
*Any clergy reading this are invited to the Facebook page, VDC SD’s so that we may dialogue on issues, ideas, etc. I understand you have to go to the group and request to be allowed in?? I will then gracefully, happily, “click” you in. Join us??
Eric is our current Webmaster and works on the NLS Communications Team. Raised in Judaism, he found Christ and the New Testament at age 16 in a Southern Baptist Church. He searched many denominations for the real church, only to find the Holy Spirit is present in all of them. He's worked for One for Israel, a group of native Israeli believers who are sharing the gospel in the holy land in Hebrew and is part of the only Hebrew speaking seminary in Israel.
