A popular quote here at World Race is, “ministry is life.” Meaning – as you go about your day, doing anything and everything, you always have the opportunity to minister to someone. So, all of life is ministry and ministry is life. But what does this look like in different environments. How can you continue ministry throughout the different countries, cultures and beliefs you encounter? That is the tricky thing about temporary missions. You do your part to help the cause and then you leave. And it is incredibly hard to leave. Every place I have been, the goodbyes are always incredibly hard. You get close to individual people, build relationships and then must leave shortly thereafter. It is heart breaking for all parties. Everyone I met holds a special place in my heart. So how can I keep supporting them after I am gone?
One important way to maintain ongoing cross-cultural ministry is to keep in contact with those I have met along the way. The impact of keeping up relationships is truly beautiful. During my time in Nicaragua, the first country of my World Race journey, I met an amazing woman who quickly became my friend. She and I became really close. We would talk with one another and sometimes pick on each other, well as much as we could considering the language barrier. She encouraged me to grow as I encouraged her. That was a hard goodbye. To quote her, “my mind is strong, but my heart is soft.” This was true of that goodbye. Though we are not in person encouraging each other, we have been able to maintain the encouragement and ministry no matter what country we are in. We message each other all the time, with the help of Google Translate, sharing what is happening in our lives and praying for each other.
Even though I am back in the United States now, there are many ways to continue my ministry within different countries. I can continue to pray for the hosts and ministries I partnered with along the way. I can share the testimonies and create awareness of the issues and needs faced in different cultures. I can ask for prayer requests from full-time missionaries and ask others to join me in prayer and support. I can seek out local groups of immigrant and displaced people in my area to learn more about, pray for and support. I can continue ministry whether am overseas or in my hometown through personally reaching out to the lost people or through prayers and donations to support others on missions. Ministry is indeed life, even within text messages. God can and will use all things for His glory.
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