Five Questions on Short-Term Missions with Josh Ray
I had so much fun doing “five questions” last week with Bill Cecchini, we’re going to make it a regular feature on the blog. Now, this is supposed to be for the CFCI-Nicaragua blog. But since I’m doing all the work, I reserve the right to post these interviews on Missions Minded too! And I’m even throwing in a little bonus for the Missions Minded readers: you get a sneak peak of my conversation with Josh Ray right now…before the Monday morning post time on cfci-nicaragua.org. Without further ado, here’s “Five Questions on Short-Term Missions with Josh Ray”:
Nathan: Thinking back to your time in Nicaragua, what makes you laugh?
Josh: There are a lot of memories that make me chuckle. I love watching the faces of my team when they get off the plane and are immediately bombarded with 50 Nicaraguans helping them with their luggage. I love watching the team compare the two cultures by pointing out similar restaurants or road signs. I love playing silly games like “signs”; having a team Mascot called “Gumbo” who actually seems like another team member by the end of the trip; and trying to break the communication barrier with host families. It seemed like we were playing an endless game of charades!
Nathan: When you picture a face associated with your mission, whose face is it?
Josh: The first face I think about when I think of is the face of a young Nicaraguan Missionary named Fabricio. He has become family to me and I count it a privilege to call him “my brother from another mother.” He is so passionate about Jesus and always has a huge smile on his face. The team immediately falls in love with him every year we come down. He reminds me how fun life is and how important it is for us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with every village and church we visit.
When I think about my time this year in Nicaragua I think about my Nicaraguan “mother”. I love that part of the mission is spent in “host homes” with Nicaraguan families from the local church. They teach us so much about their culture and their love for Jesus. Every year it’s hard to say goodbye to our families because God has stirred up an eternal bond between us “cheles” and them.
Nathan: Looking ahead, how has this experience changed your outlook, priorities, and plans?
Josh: Every year I look forward to taking young people to Nicaragua because I know that God uses CFCI and the people of Nicaragua to do amazing things in their lives. Every student comes back changed and I always fruit from every trip. The experience has solidified my calling with youth ministry because of the ways the teenagers are affected by the mission. It has confirmed a huge priority for our youth group to be involved in missions. Global missions always helps me to focus on the mission that God has called me to. It encourages me to keep going strong with the mission that God has called me to in Mount Pleasant, SC.
Nathan: How has your understanding of the Great Commission changed since your trip?
Josh: Global missions has helped me not to put the Great Commission in a box. God is everywhere and we are doing our part locally. But when we get to experience how God is working in a different part of the world, we realize that the Great Commission is bigger than our little box.
This year the team really felt the power and presence of God and wanted to make a difference in their part of the world because of the difference they made in Nicaragua. Two students from the team decided that they were going to meet every morning before school and pray. They pray for their peers, teachers, administrators, and for the Glory of God to be illuminated through them all. They have not missed a day since school has begun and now the group has grown to 25 students. The trip to Nicaragua helped these students understand the Great Commission and make a difference in their mission field. (I attached a clipping from the school newspaper about the group).
Nathan: Your Christian friend has never been on a mission trip and says, “It’s just not for me.” How do you respond?
Josh: Missions is for everybody. I believe Jesus when he said to go out to the ends of the earth and share the Gospel. Every person should experience a mission trip in his or her lifetime. You may not receive a calling to full-time missions, but there is something about a mission trip that brings you closer to God. In my opinion, the trip is more of a blessing to the short-term missionary than anyone else. You experience God in a different culture and He really uses it to speak to into your life.
Josh Ray is the Youth Minister at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. He’s led three youth mission trips to Nicaragua. You can keep up with Josh on his blog and on Twitter. His better half, Jess, is also on Twitter. (That seems to be a requirement for everyone involved with Seacoast these days.)
