I don't know if you've heard the buzz around your movement but this month is "GOvember" meaning we are praying for you and excited with you as you pray about and consider what God is going to be leading you to do on your campus, in your family, with friends, and after you graduate as you GO wherever you GO with the message of Jesus. Maybe this means God will lead you to step out in faith in sharing your story this month with someone you know. Maybe this means God will lead you where He wants you after you graduate. Maybe, God will lead you to go on Summer Mission with Cru this summer even if you least expect it...
I've heard it said by many staff and I agree with them. I truly believe that Summer Missions are the best thing that Cru offers for students. So, if you're thinking about it, on the fence, or even if you have no idea what Summer Missions with Cru means... here's my perspective on five reasons to go on Cru Summer Missions for our Five Things Friday post of the week!
1. Why Not? Why not go with Cru this summer on a Summer Mission? You can go anywhere in the world, and practically anywhere in the US, for 2 weeks, 6 weeks, even 10 weeks to live in an authentic and Biblical community, get a job or participate in some sort of ministry full during your days, share the gospel with coworkers or new friends, and step out of your comfort zone to trust God with the unimaginable. We call it a "spiritual greenhouse" and there's a reason - often the growth for students' personal relationships with God is unparalleled over summer missions than it is at any other point in the year! So why not consider going? Why not?
2. It's fun. Some of my favorite memories from when I went on a Summer Mission [OCMD '09 what up] were the times when we were all sitting on the front porch of the building we shared, goofing off, or when we would go to the beach on Sunday afternoons or when we'd go get ice cream on the boardwalk after a meeting and just laugh the night away. It was seriously SO MUCH FUN and I'm still close with many of those friends I made there... 6 years later! It's just fun.
3. You have 3 summers. Ish. [AmIright?] Three summers during college. Yeah, you might want to work at a camp [they have summer missions for that] or have to get an internship [okay you can do that while going on a summer mission] and you might have to get a job [okay you can do that too] and you might want to study abroad [wait you can do that too, on mission with Cru]... I really can't argue with your grandma if she wants you to make it to her 75th birthday party or something while you'd be in Botswana... but really, you have THREE summers during college. ONE could be spent on going on Summer Mission. What can God do in that one summer!? You'd the be the one to get to find that out...
4. God says GO. Not "go on Summer Mission" - you won't find that in the Bible - although we think that's a great option for your summer... but He says to go into the world, making disciples of all nations. [Check Matthew 28 for more on that!] You can go in so many ways. You can make disciples at your internships. You can make disciples through your church, through your workplace, in your family... You can make disciples anywhere you are this summer. God will use you anywhere. However, one of the long-term benefits of Summer Mission is how you will gain so much experience to know how to make disciples and to grow in your heart for the lost in such a unique environment that will set you up [we pray] for a lifetime of walking with Jesus and making disciples wherever He sends you after your years with us are up. He isn't going to send all of you on Summer Mission this summer, and we know that. But He is going to send some of you. And regardless, wherever He sends each one of you, pray and consider going there intentionally.
5. There's a lasting legacy that comes from Summer Mission. Whether you're folding t-shirts in a souvenir shop on the boardwalk, investing in a local city in an urban context, hiking mountains with your coworkers, or communicating with those who don't speak your language, God uses Summer Missions to prepare us for a lifetime of walking with Him [see #4]. Time and time again we see students' hearts come alive to Jesus on Summer Mission, return to campus and make a significant impact there, and then graduate and go out into the world where God uses them to make an eternal impact for His Kingdom. What will your legacy be? Do you want it to be one of knowing God more, investing in His people, and expanding His kingdom for years to come? Maybe, just maybe, He wants to start building you up in those things this summer... on Summer Mission.
Our challenge to you this week is this: Simply Pray.
Pray and ask God, "What will YOU have me do this summer?" and see where He leads you. It might be where you were expecting. But it might not. I dare you to pray that prayer, with open hands and open minds/hearts, and listen for God's answers.
