I don’t know about you, but since I decided to do missions full-time, a few years ago, I get antsy if after several months I haven’t gotten my butt overseas to serve. I am thinking this is part of God’s plan in converting our hearts, turning us from focusing on ourselves to focusing on the world. I recall in my class, Biblical Foundation of Missions, Dr. “Chuckâ€? Van Engen describing a process that the apostle Peter went through in Luke and Acts. It was a transformation of Peter’s heart first to Jesus, then to the Church, then to the World. This echoed true in my life as well.

About 8 years ago, I went through a re-commitment to Christ after a luke-warm, non-committal Christian life through most of my twenties. I was raised Catholic, and decided to join a Vineyard Church after I moved to Austin, TX. After a short few months attending services, I decided following Jesus needed to be central in my life and I committed to pursue my life’s purpose as a follower of Christ. This was the first phase.

Once I began to read scripture and obey God, the next obvious thing was the decision and desire to commit to a church. This began a gradual process of deepening my engagement. I attended Alpha, joined a small group, became a children’s minister, and really got to know others in my church. Phase two became a reality as I no longer was an anonymous ‘pew sitter’ but an engaged and committed member.

Phase three just seemed a natural progression (though I realize many never move to this level) as I felt a tug to join our church’s missions efforts and went to Mexico for a weekend outreach. This began my final phase. Here I saw abject poverty, and witnessed oppression and darkness in stark contrast, just 45 minutes over the border of the wealthiest nation in the world. Over the next year, I served in Mexico, then made a rather quick decision to join a small team on medical missions to the Philippines. Once I returned, I was deeply struck by the third and final phase of my conversion. This is the one that would most profoundly affect my future. And it was the following year that I quit my phat corporate job to come to Fuller.

So, now, that itch I was talking about, comes after I have not traveled overseas for a period of time. I felt it last summer after about a year of now travel abroad. This time, it has been about 11 months, and I gotta go!! Fortunately, I’ll be heading to Lebanon next week with my church for a short-term medical and relief trip.

Clearly those seasoned missionaries who helped design Fuller’s School of Intercultural Studies MACCS degree, understood what I am talking about. It was their foresight by which we are able (and required) to scratch this itch in our program. They have built in a required 8 credit cross-cultural practicum that demands you to go abroad and participate in ministry at some point for 5 weeks during your degree. (http://www.fuller.edu/sis/main/advising/practicum_overview.asp)

So, those of you who are settled in one place too long, and have the missional itch, you are not alone. If you care to share your thoughts or experiences, I’d love to hear them. I am honestly very new to this life, and I cannot wait to touch my feet on every continent, in countless nations!