Guest blog by Amy Croy – Youth / Young Adult Minister St. Paul’s, Edmonton
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
This scripture has been the inspiration for our youth mission cycle at St. Paul’s, Edmonton for the past ten years. Over the past decade my perspective has cycled as well. I used to think of our first year, local mission, as preparation for our cross-cultural mission in year two and our international mission in year three.
Now I see the away missions as preparation for our continuing mission at home. Taking people to a different country / culture pushes them to get out of their comfort zone and totally rely on God. However, if we totally rely on God, we can leave our comfort zone even when we are in our own neighbourhood.
This was the challenge to the group of 18 people who went on a mission trip to Brazil last summer, as well as the entire parish of St. Paul’s. I am convinced that we can make a more powerful and lasting impact for God’s Kingdom right in our own community. After all, we are the ones who will follow up.
Our strategy is to instigate a Guerrilla Love Movement. Our goal is to ambush people with love until they ask us why.
