Page 14 - Mission Journal

Voice of the
Voice of the
Next Generation
Next Generation

Mission for Self-development

Angela Suh

When I was younger, many of my money, but it's hard to leave a comfort- Young Jesus, being only twelve years
non-Christian friends asked me why my able life and go to a place where you old responded like this: "Why were you
omnipotent God allows suffering in the might not be familiar with the language searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't
world. It was a question I couldn't or culture. But it's people that are you know I had to be in my Father's
answer for a long time until I realized needed because they can bring various house?" Sometimes our own parents
that it was not God, but humans, that types of knowledge and education and are the ones that prevent us from doing
continue to allow the suffering of other they can also bring spiritual and mental God's work because they are afraid,
humans. This means that only humans relief that material goods cannot even when we are not. We underesti-
can help relieve this suffering. But why provide. Spiritual help can work in mate how mature our youth can be
should we? broader ways because it brings hope in while also saying things like "when I
times of distress and it spreads love and was your age, I used to cook for my
More than anything, mission is joy. Most importantly, it connects us all family and do the laundry." We should
important for self-development. The
in a bigger picture, creating a sense of have bigger faith in the capacity of our
more we explore our own impoverished
community through God. youth so that we can raise strong
neighborhoods or villages miles away, leaders and not fearful bystanders.
the more we learn more about the Missionary work doesn't have to be
world and even ourselves. It's not this big, daunting thing that we I hope younger people become more
something that can be learned through sometimes make it out to be. It can involved in missions because we are
a book or through sermons. People start off as evangelism in our own open-minded and can contribute
think our generation lacks empathy, but communities which can be as simple as different perspectives. It also gives us a
what we actually lack is a direct inviting a friend to church or asking a great reason to travel while volunteer-
connection with suffering. Most of us stranger if they need a prayer. Getting ing. But I think it's also important for
have never experienced real suffering the youth in the habit of doing these churches to invest in mission because
first-hand. And while we can frequently things prepares them for the road to often times the only things keeping
see videos online about people mission and having a heart for the youth away from missions is money,
suffering world-wide, we forget about it world. support, and opportunities from the
in less than a week because we're church. Let's start the conversation to
separated by a lens and a screen. But sometimes it's not always our create a strong foundation for future
fault that we are not as involved as we
Mission bridges this gap because it generations!
could be. In Luke chapter 2, Jesus stays
requires us to integrate with the society
and suffer together, even for a short behind at the temple and his parents,
time. These experiences shape our upon realizing that he was not among
thinking and develop us into more their relatives, searched for him for
three days. When they finally found his
mature and conscious citizens of the Angela Suh is an aspiring medical student
mother said "Son, why have you
world. who makes an effort to remain active in
treated us like this? You father and I her church. She hopes to see more young
It is easy to just donate materials and have been anxiously searching for you." people becoming involved.

14 Mission Journal