Who is Jesus?

What is the importance of missions? Naturally, it is introducing people to the gospel, but to Jacob Waston it is so much more than that. It is the excitement of seeing people's faces light up when they hear about Jesus for the first time and the satisfaction of knowing that their life, and yours, is forever changed. 

 

Jacob is a Senior at SAGU, majoring in Intercultural Studies. He has served in SMA for three years as a trip leader, committee event coordinator, and SMA executive, and is currently serving as Secretary. Through SMA, he has participated in six mission trips, the most recent one in Central Asia. Jacob originally was a Church Leadership major and did not plan to get involved in SMA. In his first semester, he was invited to help with some hurricane relief in New Orleans during Fall Break. He signed up and quickly got involved with SMA. He later decided to go on a mission trip and ended up becoming a trip leader. His next steps are to train the next Secretary for the executive position and complete his internship in Central Asia.

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One of Jacobs's most recent mission trips was to a sensitive country in Central Asia, where they had the opportunity to teach the English language. On one of the last days of the trip, they talked to these people about holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, opening an "entire area for the Gospel" as Jacob puts it. He was met by this kid, "I still remember his face. I had seen him a couple of times, but I really didn't know him. And I'm starting to explain what Christmas is, and he looks me dead in the face and goes, 'Who's Jesus?'" Jacob says that that one moment made it all worth it. All the struggles with fundraising, eating weird food, and time changes were all worth being asked this one question. Through the Holy Spirit, Jacob was able to tell this kid about Jesus, and to talk to him again would be reason enough to return.

The impact of missions has helped Jacob see that "we're human." He's learned to meet people where they are despite their differences. We can meet people through Jesus. Missions has "taken my world view and said, 'the box is cool, but what's outside the box?' we have to look at it that way." Missions will change our perspective and help us see others through God's eyes. When leading someone to Christ, it is not the acceptance that makes it worthwhile; it's the opportunity.