Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson.
Later, after teaching three years in Kai Tak refugee camp in Hong Kong, I taught missionary children (grades 1–8) for 7 years at the American School in Garoua Boulai, Cameroon. And after that, 2 ½ years at the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, Arizona. Each was a unique experience that enriched my life and deepened my appreciation for this diverse world. There are opportunities out there for the adventurous!
The ELCA Global Mission website lists several programs, including longer term (4 yrs or more), short term (2 yrs) self-funded volunteer opportunities, and Young Adult Global Mission ( 21-29 year olds, usually 1 yr). Here is a 2 minute video clip of young adults.
How has “mission” changed? What does it mean now to “Go!”? The ELCA has adopted the “Accompaniment” approach, and to understand it, I’ve quoted a few paragraphs from their document here.
“Throughout history mission has been many things, both positive and negative. Christians have constantly tried to understand what mission means, and how to undertake it, working to learn from mistakes and misapprehensions. In the past 80 years, and especially in the past 20, Christians have begun to talk more and more about the meaning of mission with those who once were seen only as ‘objects’ of mission, the members of ‘younger churches’ in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We’ve begun to see that all of God’s people are called to think about the why and how of mission.”
“Jesus came to reconcile us with God. God meets us in our brokenness, and restores our relationship with God and with one another. God desires our reconciliation with one another, so that we no longer exploit or hurt; and our reconciliation with the earth, so that we no longer abuse or waste. We continue to be imperfect, but we are constantly called back to God’s mission of reconciliation.”
“A lot of mission work historically looked like this: [Imagine 3 circles] there is God’s story, my story and your story. Mission meant me bringing God’s story to you. God’s story is on my side [of a boundary line], and you are on the other side. I’m crossing boundaries to bring God to you.
“Accompaniment helps us see mission differently: [Imagine the circles “my story” and “your story” are both in the large God’s story circle —like a Venn diagram.] In reconciliation, we realize that my story and your story are not divided by boundaries, but are both reconciled within God’s story.”
“In mission, our companions on the road may be individual people in our own community or entire churches in other countries. Engaging in mission through Accompaniment, we remember that in order to proclaim the Gospel, we must place a high priority on relationship – that relationship which God has intended for us since the beginning of the world.
“When we walk together, we need to be able to talk honestly, to share with one another, to get to know one another – to undo the boundary of strangeness or suspicion between us. It takes time, thought, and commitment to learn to see how we create boundaries, to perceive the asymmetries in our relationships, and to respond to them from Christ’s reconciling mission.”
For full document: https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Accompaniment_(full).pdf
We have experienced this Accompaniment, this walking together, with Bega kwa Bega. Shoulder to Shoulder.
And the last 2 paragraphs quoted brings it all closer to home: to the USA, to Minnesota, to our metro area and Roseville. Our mission truly is just “Out the Door.” Who is Prince of Peace walking with? How are you involved? How might you be changed by this walking together?
Gracious God, Abba of our Lord Jesus, bless our going out into the world to share the good news of your love manifested in the life and resurrection of Jesus. Guide us in our listening and learning as we journey forward seeking truth and reconciliation in you, walking together with new friends and neighbors. Amen.