Contemplations: Missionaries Ambassadors

Missionaries--- I remember when I was a kid, how the mention of the word “Missionary” meant adventure and living over seas. One day in Kansas City, Missouri while attending the church's Wednesday night service I met some Missionary kids. The Church was celebrating Missionary week and there was a family visiting who were missionaries in Africa. They had slides, beads, and native jewelry and a ton of stories. I remember that day as the moment I became enamored with the thought of being a Missionary. My Mom and Dad had read us many stories of missionaries as we grew up and for some reason they all lived in the Jungle. So when my Dad told us that we were going to be missionaries in Mexico I was ecstatic and began to imagine our lives in the Jungles of Mexico!

Until the day we actually left for Mexico, my Dad continued to teach in churches and home groups and when he would tell people that he was going to the “Mission Field” I noticed a different response among people than the one I felt. Their faces closed down or became “compassionate” (i.e. feel sorry or pity). And even today, when people mention the word "Missionary" their minds are full of images of poor, and needy people living in hardship. In fact, when I hear those people called into the Mission Field, they sound resolved to live destitute and to endure hardships. But this popular view is wrong and, to a degree, offensive.

At nearly 40 years old I can say that I see things differently. I've been lived more overseas than I have lived in the US. I have been the Missionary. I have lived as a Missionary and a Preacher's Kid. The way I see the world and the way I live my faith has matured. I must admit to you that I still believe that living as a missionary is adventurous and fun. I must also point out that God isn’t the only one who has Missionaries. A Missionary is much more than just a person who teaches and or preaches.

In first place, let me tell you that the USA has Ambassadors in many countries throughout the world. Each Ambassador is assigned to an Embassy and that Embassy reason for being, along with all those assigned to it is called the Mission. When a person is assigned by the State Department or the Department of Justice, or the Depart of Agriculture to the Embassy of what ever country, it is said that they are part of that Mission. So in all effects of the word they have become “Missionaries” of that Embassy.

In fact, they are asked to behave in such a way as to truthfully represent the Home Country i.e. USA. They are told that their activities, their actions, their conversations and friends reflect what the Mission is all about. So what is the Mission about? It’s is about representing the Home Country and it’s interests. It shows the strength, the power, the wealth, and the influence the Home Country has and is. It promotes commerce, communication, travel, and trade among the Home Country and the Host Country. It is a place for citizens of the Home Country to go to receive aid and support while in the host or foreign country.

But what I would like to emphasize is that the missionaries are not poor, destitute, living in hardship. I would imagine that the U.S. would frown on anyone assigned to the Mission that was living that way. In fact, the Ambassador (the ultimate representative of the Home Country) is surrounded by guards, and assistants. He or she lives in a nice house, and has his needs catered too. The Ambassador holds periodic meetings with the host country dignitaries and measures his/her words to say that which would reflect the interests and position of the Home Country.

It is interesting to know that we are representatives of a heavenly kingdom. We are God’s Ambassadors. We represent His Kingdom. It is true that we are Missionaries the moment we are assigned to His Mission. The Mission God has called us to is to “represent” and tell the World of His Kingdom. (Mark 16:15-18 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”(KJV) Matthew 6:9-10 "This is how you should pray. " 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. (NIV))

Our Mission is to bring the Kingdom of God to this Earth. So anything and everything we do should be done towards those ends. This revelation should reflect on how we see and expect a Missionary to be. They are representatives of the Kingdom. They aren’t supposed to be poor, nor would it be God’s will for them to be. On the contrary, since they represent the Kingdom, Missionaries should be attractive in every way. And when a person is called to a poor country it isn’t to be pitied but to be rejoiced and celebrated, since God is, in fact, sending an emissary to a needy country to supply it’s need, not with words alone, but with power, authority, rain, prosperity, health and a future.

An Ambassador is never alone. He speaks with his entire nation behind him. His words are backed up by the Armed Forces, Commerce, the Blessings of his nation, and the threat of holding his nation’s wealth from anyone who refuses their diplomatic note. If it is certainly true that the physical world is only a shadow of the Spiritual, then how much MORE should we walk with authority as Ambassador’s here on this Earth (aliens in a foreign land) declaring God’s Kingdom with every action, Every Word. Missionaries

-----Some Examples of US Ambassador's Residence------
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US Ambassador's Residence in Dublin