Another Monday - another time to focus on a mission...
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...." (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Matthew 28 Project is a unique, one-of-a-kind mission that was started at my church a few years ago, based on a vision that our pastor had. After a trip to New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he came back with a plan to set up a new project where the church provides funding for the deployment of volunteers in unique mission opportunities. Initially, we have been deploying individuals or couples into the mission field for up to 30 days at a time in the Gulf Coast area, but hope to expand this project into Guatemala, Greensburg, or wherever else the need is.
In New Orleans, our volunteers leave the comfort of their own homes and live up to 30 days near a Methodist recovery station, helping coordinate work projects for mission teams from all over the United States. The work involves keeping in touch with folks in New Orleans, rounding up tools and supplies for the incoming volunteer teams, and acting as a resource to assist in the recovery of the area from the devastation from Katrina.
Since 2007, our church has sent at least one volunteer a month to New Orleans. You don't have to be a member of our church to be our Matthew 28 volunteer - we've had people from as far away as Reno, Nevada go! I had the joy and privilege of being the Matthew 28 volunteer in June 2008 - and it was quite the experience - I certainly learned about tools...and I learned (to my chagrin) that when a volunteer calls for an 8" knife, it's not a hunting knife he wants - it's a mudding knife....I'll never live that one down. Live and learn, I always say.
Our group in 2008
Matthew 28 is a great experience - it's one of those "double blessings" in life - you're blessing others, but in turn, you're being blessed in ways you won't even know.
If you'd ever like more information about this - or any mission - let me know. Whatever mission you choose to do - just do it...one day at a time, one action at a time.
Peace.
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