Q: When our church goes on an evangelistic mission trip to Mexico, why does it seem so easy to approach people with the good news there, but more difficult when I get back home?

A: Dee‑dee‑dee‑dee! You are about to enter another dimension–a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. It’s a journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop: the Witnessing Zone.

We are intently focused while on a short‑term mission trip to assist another fellowship in a foreign land. Back home we are busy with the business of maintaining our own lives, daily responsibilities, a possible “honey‑do” list. On a mission trip, we have left these responsibilities behind; sharing Jesus Christ is the only thing we go there for (See Mark 16:15).

There is also a group dynamic which comes into play. A team fired up charges onto the playing field with a goal: play like champions. We cross the border together with a heightened expectancy of coming victories, though it’s often a major miracle just to discover everyone brought their proper identification.

Time is limited on a three‑day trip, so we don’t waste any (See Col 4:5). Historically speaking, some of the most unbelievable plays have been executed after the two‑minute warning in many important football games. Mention John Elway and most Cleveland Browns fans over 40 become instantly nauseated.

Jesus said, “I come quickly (Rev 3:11).” We tend to forget the urgency He desires us to consider (See Rev 22:20).

It seems more nonbelievers will ignore the message here in the United States, while Mexicans in general appreciate any attempt to communicate in their language in their land. One day when I’m feeling extremely nuts, perhaps I’ll fake an accent here and see what happens. If I get more attention, I’ll let you know.

Truth is stranger than fiction. Mexican Christians have told us the same thing happens to them, only in reverse. They are happy when we show up because more people listen. Go figure. So before you beat yourself up over your assumed failures locally, don’t forget that you may have been sharing Jesus over five years with coworkers or neighbors before the light finally goes on and they respond. Not all conversions are instant (See Acts 3:19).

In 1958, Rod Sterling’s original pilot for “The Twilight Zone” was about a man who kept waking up on December 6, 1941, the day before Pearl Harbor was bombed. What would it be like if he continuously warned everyone of the coming disaster and nobody listened? Remember, a good Christian witness simply tells others what he or she sees and knows about Jesus in their personal life. Keep doing that and you will have more success than that guy in “The Twilight Zone.”

Matthew 28:19, Pastor Huck:                                                                            

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