In Defense of Missions: How Ms. Rennae changed my mind

by xorah cole

In the fall of 2022, I enrolled in The Church in Ministry and Mission with Ms. Rennae De Freitas at 8 am. I arrived with some notable objections, and I was resistant to participate. I was not prepared for the very concrete ways in which this class would shift my thinking.

The Church in Ministry and Mission attempted to answer the following questions regarding the church, "Who are we?" and "What are we here for?". Anyone who has taken this class will recognize these questions as central to the curriculum. At this point, I will admit my arrogance. When Ms. Rennae first posed these questions, my natural response was, "What a question- I can figure that out on my own. We don’t need a whole class for that!" As suggested by the title of this essay, this was not the truth. In fact, it was far from the truth, and I learned this when I was given a chance to push the boundaries of my self-ascribed identity. I often found myself challenged to connect my academic knowledge, my personal faith, and my actions. I was forced to analyze and provide logical support for many of my core beliefs. I looked critically at myself and my role in the church. In doing so, I realized I had spent years with these vague and lofty ideas about who I was. This class helped me refine these ideas. It's fair to say that I did not learn anything new, shiny, or revolutionary. As a church kid, I grew up knowing the ‘correct’ answers. My parents did their job; I was exposed to the 'correct' answers a million and one times; in Bible-themed songs and Christian tv shows, coloring books, and my personal copy of baby’s first adventure Bible. I am a true, 2000’s church kid, and I can easily quote Goliath's challenge from "Dave and the Giant Pickle" or break out into a stunning rendition of "You are my cheeseburger" (often without prompting!).

But let’s be honest, the knowledge of my parents and of my childhood can only take me so far. Hence, the Bible college experience aims to provide a space where young adults like you and me can wrestle with questions of faith, develop our identity, and learn to turn knowledge into wisdom. The Church in Ministry and Mission is a great space to do that. So no, I did not gain any “new" knowledge, but I did learn to deepen my knowledge. That is what I most valued about my experience last semester. I learned how to use and apply my knowledge. I learned it’s not enough to know with your mind if you refuse to act. Finding personal change is insufficient if you keep it to yourself.

If I’m honest, this is counter to my nature. I love to spend time studying and listening to theories. I often find myself shying away from practical ministry because I fear the “messiness” of church politics. A significant part of the process has been connecting the practical and the academic. As much as I enjoy my books, I believe that for Christians to model Jesus, we must find a balance between contemplation and action. I like to think of this as the Mary/Martha effect. That small episode in Luke 10:38-42 is tucked between the parable of the Good Samaritan and the Lord's prayer. Its position indicates just how central that balance is to the Christian faith. This transition from theoretical to applied knowledge is, of course, an ongoing process. But  I know I'm in a better place, and I am so grateful for my professors and classmates who have helped me along my journey.

Where does this leave me? What will *I* do with this newfound conviction?

Enter here my shameless plug for short-term missions (via SMA trips). This conviction about balance and wisdom, combined with the influence of two close friends and Ms. Rennae, led to my interest in going on an SMA trip. And I would encourage you to consider it as well. Here are three reasons to take your time in the Church in Ministry and Mission seriously and reasons to consider short-term missions.

First, use your spiritual gifts. In class, we took a spiritual gifts assessment. As a church kid, through and through, I have taken many, many, many spiritual gift assessments, and I'm sure you have too. But remember, this is not about what you already know; it's about using what you know. My spiritual gift is teaching, which I have been operating for much of my life. The mission statement I wrote in class serves as a guide for me when using my gift. It reads:

I believe the Bible is the infallible word of the Almighty God for guidance and instruction for His people, but ultimately as an avenue that leads to faith and, thus, a relationship with the Godhead. I have dedicated my life to the study and teaching of scripture.

What better time to start walking in our gifts than now? What better place than here? In Ms. Rennae's class, you can identify, refine, and grow in your spiritual gifts. Use it! Use this opportunity wisely because your mission field is before you. The harvest is plenty, and the workers are few.

Second, grow in relationships. This class is ultimately about relationships. The discussions of the Bible, missions, missionaries, and cultures all lead to studying human relationships (both with each other and with God almighty, primarily through Jesus Christ). You'll do yourself a favor if you approach this class and your mission field from a relational perspective; prioritize the interactions between people and people groups rather than "objective facts." When Jesus was on earth, he was always about people and relationships. What else is there to do but follow in his footsteps? The gospel message, our faith, and our God are all relational. If I am his servant, my ministry should also be relational. True missional evangelism is about people, not about numbers or statistics. May the church be a people that reflect the great relationship within the Godhead above all else.

Third, be obedient to the Great Commission. This wouldn't honestly be an essay on missions without discussing the great commission. If I learned nothing else in that class, I learned this- God wants to partner with me (and you!). God, sovereign, beauteous, prosperous, loving, awe-inspiring, creator God, wants to partner with me. And he has wanted to partner with me for all of eternity! What an offer! What an inconceivable, incomprehensible offer. How can I resist? He is on a mission to be joined in a relationship with humanity, and he has asked for my help, not because he needs it, but because he wants it. Because he enjoys my company. He enjoys *your* company. How beautiful, how humbling.

Who am I? Well, I am a servant of the highest. I am learning and growing every day. I strive to be Christ-like, not only in word but deed. And what am I here for? I am here to love God and to love his people, to join the Father in his mission.

So, I'm going on the Southeast Asia trip. Is this trip going to change the world? Probably not. But it could change a life; it's certainly changing mine.

Who are you? What are you here for? I can't answer that for you, but prayer is a great place to start. And, maybe stop by Ms. Rennae's office- I know her door is always open, and she certainly knows more than I do. All I can say is to accept that spectacular offer and watch God work wonders in and through you.