Four months after travelling with HistoryMakers to South-East Asia, one of our summer team members, Josh, has reflected on how his time away impacted him.
Romans 8:35-38
35 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
My trip with HistoryMakers to Asia was all about one thing; the love of Jesus and the power it has over all things and through all things. My two weeks saw these verses from Romans 8 played out in numerous ways; revealing to me again that Christ’s love gives us victory over everything.
In my time away with HistoryMakers I saw how Christ’s love can restore all creation from sin and darkness. No matter how strong the stronghold, His love is stronger. I saw people who have been used and abused by man and made to feel like they are nothing. Now they are changed, renewed, finding hope, love, value, purpose and living free in Christ, as the sons and daughters of God that they have come to know they are.
I saw how Christ’s love has the power to unite; how He united our team, despite us coming from different backgrounds and capabilities, to be of one mind and one heart – His. I’ve been so blessed with the wonderful friendships that I made, with beautiful and inspiring people, who will remain friends for life. We have already met up since which is a testimony in itself. This unity extended to the brothers and sisters we met in Christ while in Asia. No barrier, whether linguistic or cultural, could not get in the way of the unifying warmth, love and fellowship that we had in the love of Christ. The days spent with them in work, in fellowship and in worship were some of the greatest days of my life. An inspiring little glimpse of what Revelation 5 will be like!
I saw how Christ’s love has the power to make us bold and courageous, as I saw how brothers and sisters in the persecuted church live out the truth of God’s Word, especially Romans 8. Nothing will come in the way of their love for Christ. Not fear of man nor fear of losing friend and family, not fear of losing security or their homes, not even fear of losing their very own liberty and freedom. Nothing stops our brothers and sisters from sharing Him, worshipping Him and following Him. He is just worth so much more to them. I’ve been so impacted by this and it continues to resonate with me. Here in the West, many of us, myself included, fail to exercise the freedom we have in our society to share the Gospel. In Asia our brothers and sisters are risking it all and doing it willingly and joyfully – an attitude I want to adopt myself!
I saw how Christ’s love has power over man. He may have his schemes to stop the spread of Jesus’ love through the Gospel. He can do all that is within his power to stop it, to deter it, but Christ’s love is stronger and all the more so when it is being attacked. It is spreading like wildfire in places where man is trying to do his utmost to prevent it. It shows how the wisdom of man is made foolish by God. It is always better to fear the Lord than man because He is bigger and better every single time.
I saw how Christ’s love has the power to change lives; one being mine. This trip has changed me for the better. I desire to know my Saviour more, to follow him more, to give up more of my life to him because the more I give to Him the more I’m actually living. The experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met have inspired me and have helped me better understand who I am.
These short-term mission teams are called HistoryMakers, but the truth is there’s only one history-maker, and that’s Jesus. His love changed history, and is currently making history, both close to home and right now in Asia. He is giving you an opportunity to be part of it, how cool is that? My advice to all of you, is go, do not be afraid, we all have something to offer Christ and to the trip, and it’s only His work through us that counts anyway. I actually found out I have skills and strengths within me that I would never have known without doing this trip. So what are you waiting for? Get excited to be a HistoryMaker through Jesus our Lord and Saviour, what a blessing you’ll be!
Josh
Tell others about this story
Four months after travelling with HistoryMakers to South-East Asia, one of our summer team members, Josh, has reflected on how his time away impacted him.
Romans 8:35-38
35 “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
My trip with HistoryMakers to Asia was all about one thing; the love of Jesus and the power it has over all things and through all things. My two weeks saw these verses from Romans 8 played out in numerous ways; revealing to me again that Christ’s love gives us victory over everything.
In my time away with HistoryMakers I saw how Christ’s love can restore all creation from sin and darkness. No matter how strong the stronghold, His love is stronger. I saw people who have been used and abused by man and made to feel like they are nothing. Now they are changed, renewed, finding hope, love, value, purpose and living free in Christ, as the sons and daughters of God that they have come to know they are.
I saw how Christ’s love has the power to unite; how He united our team, despite us coming from different backgrounds and capabilities, to be of one mind and one heart – His. I’ve been so blessed with the wonderful friendships that I made, with beautiful and inspiring people, who will remain friends for life. We have already met up since which is a testimony in itself. This unity extended to the brothers and sisters we met in Christ while in Asia. No barrier, whether linguistic or cultural, could not get in the way of the unifying warmth, love and fellowship that we had in the love of Christ. The days spent with them in work, in fellowship and in worship were some of the greatest days of my life. An inspiring little glimpse of what Revelation 5 will be like!
I saw how Christ’s love has the power to make us bold and courageous, as I saw how brothers and sisters in the persecuted church live out the truth of God’s Word, especially Romans 8. Nothing will come in the way of their love for Christ. Not fear of man nor fear of losing friend and family, not fear of losing security or their homes, not even fear of losing their very own liberty and freedom. Nothing stops our brothers and sisters from sharing Him, worshipping Him and following Him. He is just worth so much more to them. I’ve been so impacted by this and it continues to resonate with me. Here in the West, many of us, myself included, fail to exercise the freedom we have in our society to share the Gospel. In Asia our brothers and sisters are risking it all and doing it willingly and joyfully – an attitude I want to adopt myself!
I saw how Christ’s love has power over man. He may have his schemes to stop the spread of Jesus’ love through the Gospel. He can do all that is within his power to stop it, to deter it, but Christ’s love is stronger and all the more so when it is being attacked. It is spreading like wildfire in places where man is trying to do his utmost to prevent it. It shows how the wisdom of man is made foolish by God. It is always better to fear the Lord than man because He is bigger and better every single time.
I saw how Christ’s love has the power to change lives; one being mine. This trip has changed me for the better. I desire to know my Saviour more, to follow him more, to give up more of my life to him because the more I give to Him the more I’m actually living. The experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met have inspired me and have helped me better understand who I am.
These short-term mission teams are called HistoryMakers, but the truth is there’s only one history-maker, and that’s Jesus. His love changed history, and is currently making history, both close to home and right now in Asia. He is giving you an opportunity to be part of it, how cool is that? My advice to all of you, is go, do not be afraid, we all have something to offer Christ and to the trip, and it’s only His work through us that counts anyway. I actually found out I have skills and strengths within me that I would never have known without doing this trip. So what are you waiting for? Get excited to be a HistoryMaker through Jesus our Lord and Saviour, what a blessing you’ll be!
Josh
