North to Alaska!

If Mapquest is correct, there are 3921 miles between Siloam Springs, Arkansas and Kenai, Alaska.  Other than both being “A” states, I can think of little that the two places have in common.  However, much of going on mission there has changed the way I will live on mission here.

Along with nine other women, I was blessed to be part of the first FBC Heart Life Women’s Ministry mission team.  We served with Brenda Crim and Alaska Missions during Salmon Frenzy on the Kenai Peninsula.  Alaska residents come to dip net salmon from the Kenai River and we were there to serve them.  Most of our team operated a Kids Camp – delighting the kids with stories, skits, crafts, and music – all to teach them about Jesus.

I helped to prepare and serve about 1200 hot dogs each day, give away free water bottles and hot chocolate, and to walk the beach picking up trash.  I loved every minute.  Giving something away for free opens up the hearts of those you get to speak with.

My assignment – physically and spiritually – for the week was to be a servant.  God, as always, prepared and equipped me for what He called me to do.

This verse from Mark 9:35 just “happened” to show up in my morning Bible reading while in Alaska:

…If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.

Mark 10:44-45 hammered it in again:

and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all, for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I wasn’t in charge of anything in Alaska—I was assigned the role of servant.  In Arkansas I often find myself in a leadership role.  The two are not mutually exclusive.  Servant leadership is a phrase that has taken on cliché status in its overuse, but it became more than a Christian buzz word for me last week.  Being a servant is more than merely performing tasks.  It is also a choice, an attitude, and a decision to walk in obedience.

I also learned a lot about my own inhibitions.  There’s something about talking to people you will most likely never see again that makes it totally okay to ask, “Is there anything I can pray about for you?”  Walking along the beach and praying for people as you go opens the eyes of one’s heart to see people as God sees them – as just simply people.  Meeting people and telling them I had traveled from Arkansas to deliver them that hot dog opened up the lines of the communication.  Giving away something free earned me the right to ask, “How’s the fishing going today?”  (Another Alaska and Arkansas commonality:  fishermen from both states have the-one-that-got-away stories.)

Suddenly, I am looking at people differently.  Seeing them as folks who need to know that Jesus loved them and died for them makes it much easier for me to look for opportunities to bring Jesus into the conversation.  I want to be wise.  I want to walk in wisdom.  Sticking my hand out and saying flippantly, “Hey, man – Jesus loves you!” might have me labeled a religious kook.  I don’t want to defame the name of Jesus or make it difficult for the next person who might come along and water the seed God lets me plant.  But I do want to walk in obedience.  For too long I’ve viewed evangelism as if I’m “selling” something someone doesn’t want instead of telling them about something totally free that they desperately need.

In Alaska, I learned to be free – free of anxiety and fear about “what will people think?”  I learned to naturally and honestly engage in conversation.  I was enabled and empowered to represent my Lord.  I want to live that way from here on.  I pray that my AA (After Alaska) life stands in sharp contrast to my BA (Before Alaska) life.

I went ON mission to Alaska.  My assignment now is to LIVE on mission in Arkansas.

Copyright 2011 Laura Macfarlan