Beatitudes And Commandments For Volunteers in Mission

by

Leon Adkins and Bonnie Totten Adkins, Troy Annual Conference, April 20, 1996

Beatitudes

Happy are the humble minded, who sense that God calls people to give of themselves as ambassadors by acting their faith in word, deed and prayer toward others involved in Volunteer in Missions for they are the ones who travel from home to a special place of mission with others in the name of Christ's church.

Happy are those who know the needs and sorrows of other people in this world and are still willing to join Christians and others in working together for a more lovely and peaceful world for their courage will bring joy to themselves and others.

Happy are those who claim nothing for themselves in the experience, but find the happiness which God intends for persons for they will be stewards of abundance and their riches in faith.

Happy are those who hunger and thirst for this time of serving and love for they will find a banquet in god's kingdom.

Happy are those who are sincere in all their actions as representatives on the United Methodist Church, other churches and their culture, mixing them selves with great respect for other religions, cultures and people for they are fortunate to be the guests of other hosts and hostesses.

Happy are those who make peace in any corner of the world, for they shall be known as the sons and daughters of light who respect all, who believe in god's Spirit and responses for they shall be dancing and joining hands in the great circle of the world's people.

And, if persecution and misunderstanding has been the experience of the past then new ways are sought to be healers of the separations, pains and pathos of others for they are the social surgeons who cut away the hurts of misunderstanding, diseases of hatred and cancers of war. And, (happy are these who) leave the healing in God's love.

Commandments

Volunteers in Mission prepare themselves by work and prayer.

Volunteers in Mission become a family together who work, play and live togther in a common mission.

Volunteers in Mission are persons who respect both limitations and talents of one another and the responsibilities of choice which the leader or leaders must often make with the host people.

Volunteers in Mission attempt to learn language and customs of another part of the world which becomes their transitory home.

Volunteers in Mission discover the new and different conversion of faith which continually happens through all the experiences in their journey of life. Volunteers in Mission are different people once they have shared themselves with others in the new ways.

Volunteers in Mission treasure their experience and do not lock them in their hearts and minds, but rather they share with their family and friends at home as a testimony to the work of the church and the witness to Christ's love. They tell a new story.

Volunteers in Mission share a new thanksgiving in prayer to god for life, fortunate experiences and the opportunities to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ.