“How did you know you wanted to go into ministry/missions?” This question seems off, isn’t the answer obvious?
As an apprentice of Jesus, my love for him should overflow into the world. Sharing the gospel is automatic, a natural echo in every encounter. The steadiness and care in my steps should be noticed.
People ask, “why are you like that?” The answer is Jesus. It is in the way I live that people should see Jesus. In that miraculous moment when I declared, okay Jesus — that is when I became a missionary.
Missions is the fruit of following Jesus. He calls us to go and make disciples, faithful servants inviting everyone to meet the King.
“Therefore 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
The invitation to sing the good news is not exclusive to traditional church careers and global missions — these environments are vital, but God invites us to harvest the field of the whole world. Our Father is an artist, a gardener. Jesus, a carpenter. Mission is motherhood, hospitality, marriage, friendship. Ministry is business, being a barista, walking dogs, nannying, baking pastries, being a computer technician or a chemistry teacher. The Lord gives us gifts, putting purpose in our pursuits for the kingdom to come. We are just getting ready.
At Camp De Cimes I get to serve, all the time––and I love it. The routine:
Wake up.
Be with Jesus (and coffee).
Feed and play with the cats.
Take care of the gardens.
Make coffee for the team.
Morning chat and prayer.
Various daily tasks include: climb mountains of laundry, clean, organize art supplies, care for the flowers (personal favorite), pick cherries, move rocks, pull weeds…there is always something to do or someone to help.
Looooong lunch.
Continue various tasks.
Matthew 20:28“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Flying under the radar, cruising behind the scenes. I get to do what goes unnoticed. I rescue plants from bugs and snails from the fountain, wash sheets and scrub toilets. Cook, play, sing and dance, make art, meet friends and talk about Jesus. It is an honor to show up joyfully with a crew of devoted laborers to whatever God provides.
What we do is about serving in the manner of Jesus. Loving people well.
The whole world is the mission field.
“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8).
Claire Zavoyna is a Ten2 volunteer with Greater Europe Mission and serves at Camp des Cimes in France.
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