| Lessons
From Short Term Mission
Late last March
the Restaurant Evangelism Fellowship organised a mission trip
to St Louis, USA. A team of eight visited more than 300 restaurants
and take-aways; fi ve evangelistic meetings were held and more
than 30 people accepted the Lord. Laura Lee, a member of the team,
shares her lessons from that trip.
I had been hoping for a chance to share the
Gospel overseas so the short-term mission to St Louis was a real
answer to prayer. We were to focus our outreach efforts on the
Chinese in the catering trade.
Lesson 1: Understanding the local situation
Not surprisingly, money and business are top
priorities for Chinese in the catering trade in St Louis. They
work a thirteen-hour day, with little apart from karaoke and gambling
for amusement. Only those with flourishing businesses can afford
to take Sunday off.
With the growing number of restaurants and takeaways
it is difficult nowadays to employ good staff. Younger, educated
Chinese are not interested in the trade and some even look down
on it. Overseas Chinese students, once eager for work, are increasingly
from affluent families and don’t need to get a job.
The religious beliefs of this people group typically
involve idols and ancestor worship. Vietnamese Chinese especially
feel it’s a betrayal not to have an ancestral shrine at home.
Lesson 2: Who are the best missionaries?
Unlike their counterparts in England, those
in the trade have few opportunities to hear the Gospel. The local
Chinese church runs fellowships for students, doctors and other
professions but none for restaurant workers.
Chinese Christians who have first-hand knowledge
of the trade are ideally suited to bring the Gospel to this neglected
group. Obviously basic personal evangelism skills are also necessary
to pave the way for people to come to receive the Gospel.
Speaking the same language – literally
– is also important. Many Chinese in the States speak the
Toisan dialect. Knowledge of this and other dialects would be
a great asset.
Lesson 3: Reflections after the trip
Coming from a restaurant background myself,
I felt a closeness to these people and found common ground in
education, culture and experience. This made it easier for me
to share the Gospel with them. As an ambassador of the Gospel
I feel I need to have a fi rmer grasp of a range of issues from
global economies to the insecurity in people’s hearts. This
has become my challenge.
This short-term mission revealed the immense
grace of God towards me. The more I receive, the more I am willing
to give. Missionaries should be people willing to give their lives
at any time. I may not be able to do that alone but I believe
God will give me the strength.
Laura Lee
06/01 |
