Apostolic Friends Forum - Missions Trip With Doctors To Boliva

I went with my wife to her trinny Charismatic church this morning. One o the young ministers in the church came back a day early from a missions trip to Boliva that the pastor and some church members are on.

He was testifying today about the trip and said something I thought was interesting.

I know that in Pentecostal circles only now is there beginning to be any kind of thought of missions trips to bring help for physical needs as well as spiritual ones and the idea is controverseal.

I have wondered myself if those type missions trips end up only putting a salve on physical needs and don't address spiritual ones.

I was pleased today when this young man testified that the two medical doctors on the trip saw over 700 patients in two days and that the people coming to see the doctors were preached to THREE times while they were there.

First while waiting to see the doctor and while with the doctor, then on the bus to the pharmacy to get their medication, and then a third time that I have forgotten when.

The church team also were able to hold a meeting at a school where they testified to students. It was in a town where a church was recently planted and meeting in someones home. The school meeting went so well the guy who coordinates the missions felt led to approach the school leaders about the new church meeting in the school and they agreed. So now the church has a real meeting room and not just a house.

I think these medical missions or those brining some other type of physical relief can be good IF they are used as the doorway to present the gospel but if the church just ends up being a social services agency it will have ignored the Great Comission in a grievous way.