When I hear the words "mission trip," my mind
often wanders to poverty stricken cities, countries, and nations. I
imagine people feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and rebuilding
fallen homes. However, this trip to Seattle was different. We went to a
place where people have all that they need: the nice family, house and
job. They do not need us to paint
their homes, rebuild a church building or give them clothes. These
people are rich in materials but poor in spirit. People walk around
thinking they have all that they need, but do not know Jesus Christ.
They live in "happy" lives, but do not have pure joy. Seattle is a city
known to have more dogs than Christians. Many people do not even think
about church or may have never heard about Jesus.
My heart was drawn to this place, this mindset and
these people. I was no longer in the Bible belt of East Texas where
there is a church building on every corner and the majority of the
people call themselves a Christian. The people that we worked with in
Seattle showed me that the church is not the building, it is not the
walls that hold it up, or the location that you meet. The church is the
body of believers that join together. They love and care for each other
with genuine concern. The people are the pillars of strength that offer
support in times of need. So many times, I find myself wrapped up in the
building and all that it offers, forgetting that the church is the body
of Christ. We were shown genuine love from the bottom of their hearts.
It took me to a place where I could not just force Christ on someone,
but truly took the time to get to know people and to show that I cared
for them.
My heart is burdened for the lost people of
Seattle and this world, but rejoices in knowing that God is at work. He
has chosen people to go out into the communities and spread His love. It
was not about how many times we could witness or how many people would
come to Christ, but all about the greatest commandment, love. My life
should be a daily reflection of the love of Christ through my words,
attitude and actions, a constant stream of light into darkness. I pray
that Seattle would be changed. That God would use the people there that
know Him to spread His love and His name.
I pray that as one family comes to know the Lord,
they will share that with others. I pray that Seattle would no longer be
known as a city with more dogs than Christians, with less than 4% going
to a Bible believing church. I pray there would be a transformation of
the city through the name of Christ. May it soon be known as a city that
is no longer unchuched, but a city that is alive in Christ. As I go back
to my daily life, I will always remember the people of Seattle, the
burden that is upon my heart and the call to love just as Christ loved
me.
- Rachel Bitter, Mission
Team Member |
