In the chapter "Scars", Mack Stiles lists 3 steps that are super important and should be included in the preparation of all short-term mission trips:
Cultivating a Compassionate Heart: In this section, Mack tells a short story of a missionary friend who was so moved by a leper girl that he wanted to give her money but he knew that creating a "lifestyle of begging" was not the right thing to do. We all have experienced situations like this and Mack tells us that we should do what God has put in our hearts! He states a important concept, "acting as if spare change to beggars is going to give rise to some new problem for the poor grossly underestimates the problems of the poor". We should be able to give because God has placed compassion in our hearts and we should not be worried about the way they will use their money.
In our team time in Mancora we can share some of the little things that we experienced or saw or heard that touched our hearts, situations when we felt compassion for the people.
Developing an Understanding of What the Bible Says About Injustice: Mack asks us a question, "What's the good news about injustice?" and the only andswer is that God totally hates it. He lists some verses that say that God is compassionate, He is a just judge and He seeks rescue for victims. He died in the cross for us and he doesn't want us to sufer anymore. Mack gives us an interesting idea, "We believe in one (Jesus) who has so closely identified with us that he shared in our misery and tasted our death". Jesus wants to take all the pain and suffering from our shoulders. And one day God will judge the world and he will save us from our sufferings if we truly believe in Him. Here is one more thought, "One day God will judge the world, and then the justice we long to see in the world and experience only in bits and pieces will be done in full and done perfectly".
In our team times in Mancora we can talk more about injustice and what the Bible tells us about injustice. We could even memorize some verse that can help us when we face injustice.
Take Action: He wants us to be willing to take some action and be involved in the solution. Just as Mack states it, we can't just go in a mission trip, do our thing and totally ignore the problems in the community, "ignorance and denial is unacceptable". We do not have to come up with a resolution to all the problems but we do have to recognize them and know they exist.
In our team times in Mancora we can pray for the people and for their pain and suffering, we can pray for the little situation we shared that touched our hearts and we can pray so that God not only gives us a compassionate heart, but the will to take some action.
Cultivating a Compassionate Heart: In this section, Mack tells a short story of a missionary friend who was so moved by a leper girl that he wanted to give her money but he knew that creating a "lifestyle of begging" was not the right thing to do. We all have experienced situations like this and Mack tells us that we should do what God has put in our hearts! He states a important concept, "acting as if spare change to beggars is going to give rise to some new problem for the poor grossly underestimates the problems of the poor". We should be able to give because God has placed compassion in our hearts and we should not be worried about the way they will use their money.
In our team time in Mancora we can share some of the little things that we experienced or saw or heard that touched our hearts, situations when we felt compassion for the people.
Developing an Understanding of What the Bible Says About Injustice: Mack asks us a question, "What's the good news about injustice?" and the only andswer is that God totally hates it. He lists some verses that say that God is compassionate, He is a just judge and He seeks rescue for victims. He died in the cross for us and he doesn't want us to sufer anymore. Mack gives us an interesting idea, "We believe in one (Jesus) who has so closely identified with us that he shared in our misery and tasted our death". Jesus wants to take all the pain and suffering from our shoulders. And one day God will judge the world and he will save us from our sufferings if we truly believe in Him. Here is one more thought, "One day God will judge the world, and then the justice we long to see in the world and experience only in bits and pieces will be done in full and done perfectly".
In our team times in Mancora we can talk more about injustice and what the Bible tells us about injustice. We could even memorize some verse that can help us when we face injustice.
Take Action: He wants us to be willing to take some action and be involved in the solution. Just as Mack states it, we can't just go in a mission trip, do our thing and totally ignore the problems in the community, "ignorance and denial is unacceptable". We do not have to come up with a resolution to all the problems but we do have to recognize them and know they exist.
In our team times in Mancora we can pray for the people and for their pain and suffering, we can pray for the little situation we shared that touched our hearts and we can pray so that God not only gives us a compassionate heart, but the will to take some action.
