“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” This quote on travel was coined by the 20th century French author Marcel Proust, and hopefully you would side with him any day. In today’s culture, traveling is widely consumeristic, people spend all the money and time they want to get a personalized experience of some new land. The reality is, there is a much better way to be enriched by travel and that way is by traveling for the good of others and the glory of God!
At Pioneering The Journey we are overtly passionate about travel, in the form of mission trips. We actually got time to sit with the Missions Pastor at Valley Creek Church, Pastor Chris Searcy and he defined a mission trip as “a decision to obey God, an invitation to see the world as he does, and an opportunity to receive more of himself.” He expressed that his heart for people is to experience travel or mission for themselves because “it changes the way you think; travel makes you think.” He believes that in any immersive experience your “mind grows to understand, and your heart grows to hope.”
One thing Pastor Chris Searcy was adamant about is that as a disciple of Jesus, not going on mission negates God’s call on our life. He shared that “until you [go on mission] it’s going to be hard to understand what The Kingdom of God means.” Pastor Chris Searcy so desires transformation for everyone and when we choose to step into a traveling experience where we go with purpose and think, we are always transformed.
Now, it’s safe to acknowledge the bias that Pioneering The Journey has regarding travel because of the foundation of the initiative, but this week two students from Valley Creek College (VC College) agreed to share their personal perspective on “traveling with a purpose” as well. We truly believe there is more to travel than simply exploration! This school is gearing up to send a team of 40 college students to Athens, Greece in hopes to spread the life of Jesus through service and evangelism. The school is partnering with Praying Pelican Missions, with the goal to “build up, encourage, and assist the local church in serving and reaching their communities.”
The unique aspect about international mission trips is that even with the motive of service, new cultures and places are still experienced. Anna Webel, a missionary, and first year student at VC College studying for her Bachelor’s in Missional Leadership said that to travel with missions in mind is “the same verb, but different heart.” She acknowledged that traveling is fun saying “I love traveling,” and it’s something she’s passionate about, but even with the motive of service she doesn’t miss out, instead she receives more!
Carrying on with the deep excitement for travel that Webel possesses, she said that her favorite country to visit has been Vietnam. She boldly exclaimed that “you can go to a hole in the wall, sit on the floor, and have the best meal of your life!” She also articulated how she fell in love with the rich culture and amazing sights, but even when on vacation God still spoke to her about mission! Webel mentioned a story of touring a college campus there and expressed how it was actually during this trip when God highlighted her call. Webel never dismisses the pleasure in traveling, but she discovered the purpose and now explores the world with the lens of mission.
Trinity Cox, a second year student at VC College, studying to receive her Master’s degree in Christian Ministry shares the same story. Cox expressed how she views travel as “a place to minister to others,” and a way to “rest with Jesus.” It was actually through her mission trip experiences that this revelation of putting a purpose on traveling was sparked.
Cox noted that prior to these experiences she saw travel as for herself and about what she wanted, but in taking time to enrich her perspective and prepare for mission trips, her eyes have been opened. She mentioned how at her church they’re encouraged to meet new people each weekend and in this it’s been “pushing [her] to strike up conversations with other people that [she] doesn’t know.” This small mission focused practice has overflowed into her daily life. Cox even mentioned the joy that it now brings!
In the broader scope of things, traveling is definitely an experience, but what we put in we get out. So, when we choose to put in preferences and the all-about-me attitude we get out personal pleasure, but our call as disciples of Jesus is to travel with purpose for a purpose and to advance the Kingdom of God.
Are you ready to live on mission and help others PIONEER THEIR JOURNEY?
Trinity Cox, pursing ministry | Missions Pastor, Chris Searcy | Anna Webel, Missionary