Missional Living

(Another post so soon!? Yes, my friend!!)

So today is Saturday. Not a "normal" work day for career people, but the word "normal" is not in a social worker's vocabulary or job description. Today I went out on a home visit to see a new client family. This was my first visit with them and it went well. As I was driving out of their neighborhood and surrounding area, I was thinking to myself:

"You know, this is a cute little area. It's not too busy and built up but it's not podunk/middle of nowhere."

And the next thought that came to my head was:

"I wonder if it's difficult to live missionally out here. I mean, there's no real side walks and I haven't see any parks or common family fun areas..."

Honestly I took myself by surprise. Why would I think of that, of all thoughts about this area. But a better, more convicting thought is why not. But an even WORSE thought was, I don't even live missionally where I live. I live in a very nice, upscale area of Oakland County, MI. People here don't have a seemed care in the world, except getting their expensive cars dirty.

I proceeded to reflect on how I had been tuning into the Passion Conference in Atlanta this week and their focus on ending human trafficking and how slavery is at an all time high right now, even more than the transatlantic slave trade. And I was thinking about participating in the Not For Sale campaigns and groups at Grace College in 2008-2009 and how we always think that slavery is an issue "over there", how slavery exists in India, Cambodia, Thailand, etc. Slavery exists here. Human trafficking hubs are located all over the United States.

But then I thought, it's not just human trafficking. There are hurting people here. In this upscale area of Oakland County, MI there are people who have deeply rooted pains and are incredibly lost and in the dark. And they are either a) too proud to admit it or b) don't even know it. These people are my neighbors, my cashiers, my coworkers, my waiters/waitresses. How can I be upset about people not doing anything about obliterating physical slavery when I'm not doing anything to help obliterate the emotional, mental, and spiritual slavery that exists on my street!?

Missional living. Being "Good News in the Neighborhood" as a good friend says. Loving those around you. And I was thinking that maybe I want to move to a place like the neighborhood where my clients live. I mean, I already know of one hurting family there, right? I want to live in the "trenches" of hurting people and just love on them. Loving my neighbors as myself, the second greatest commandment flowing out of the first, loving the Lord with all of my heart, soul, and mind.

I honestly don't know what 2013 will hold for me. But I know TODAY, I need to start praying for the courage to take opportunities to live missionally here. We're not guaranteed a tomorrow. We may have messed up royally yesterday. But we have today. God is GOOD. He is FAITHFUL. He is JUST. And He can and will use us in all of our messiness for HIS glory and fame if we are obedient to Him.


If you read this, will you pray for me in this mission?? And I challenge you here: Are you in it to end slavery of all kinds?? Are you willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in your neighborhood?? Are you willing to be obedient?? Are you open to being used by God and for God??