10 Ways to be a Missional Momma

If we call ourselves Christians, we are supposed to always be on “mission” right?  We have news that is just too good to share.  We are called to “go and make disciples.”  We are called to love one another.  

But that’s not all pretty diamond cross necklaces, is it?  Being missional is hard work.  It’s an everyday decision that we must make.  I have really learned this over the past year or two, but since actually moving overseas it has hit me extremely hard.  How do I do all that I need to do for the day….wash dishes, clean the toilets, keep Grace content, serve my husband, cook meals, wash clothes, etc., AND be missional? Here are 10 ways that I have learned to be missional.  There are 9,872 more, and probably better, ways to be missional, but these are some that the Lord has taught me over the past year.  

#1 Be a Regular

Be a regular customer at a cafe, shop, or restaurant.  This has opened huge doors for me since moving to London.  The biggest example I can use is my weekly visit to the Somali Cafe.  Not even a week after arriving in London, I visited the cafe for the first time and knew that these women would be not only my friends, but hopefully one day women that would be open to the Gospel.  So every Wednesday, around lunchtime, Grace and I take a bus and two trains to get to this little, hidden room, up three flights of stairs, with two tables and a few chairs.  This weekly ritual has become a highlight in my week, and I hope in the Somali women’s lives as well.  We are “regulars.” 

They expect Grace and me every Wednesday.  The cook knows my order and brings it to me without me even asking.  Now, though this has been SO great, it’s not always good.  I have had to earn their trust and their friendship.  Obviously I don’t speak Somali, so many times I sit there just trying to follow foreign conversations.  I am the outsider by all means, but they know me, and they know that every Wednesday at lunchtime, Laura, the American woman, and her little girl will come and drink tea and talk.  

#2 Don’t always gravitate to your comfortable or like-minded friends.

Whether it’s at a playgroup or the library, or wherever, make new friends,  especially with those who seem new, alone, different, out-of-place, etc.  From being one of the those new/alone/different people when we moved here, those women who approached me brought so much joy and hope into my life, even if they didn’t realize it.  I take Grace to the library every Tuesday (again a regular); each time there are many of the same faces, but there are always new faces as well.  I have to make a serious effort to introduce myself to the newbies.  I think people get very confused on why we live where we live because there are not any other Americans in Wembley….or at least I haven’t seen/met them yet.  To be honest, being a little bit different has opened doors for great conversations here.  I’ve had moms comment on Grace’s bows A LOT!  It’s crazy- girl’s just don’t wear bows here, so without me knowing it, we were screaming “Americans” - I have learned that’s okay.

Through meeting these other women, I have been able to hear their stories and share my story.  And in my story, they get to hear about Jesus, and that’s what is it all about, right?

#4 Prayer walk with your kids.  

I confess, this is a new one for me, but it’s something I really want to do more with Grace.  If they are too little to understand, pop them in the stroller and take a walk and pray.  If they are of age, let them help you see what’s around you and pray.  I mean, how awesome would it be for children to learn how to prayer walk!  I hope to do more of this on a weekly basis where that is my main purpose for getting out; however, the great thing about prayer walking is you can do this at anytime, anywhere, and with anyone.  It can be silent or out loud.  That’s the beauty of it.  

#5 Make every purchase count.  

Let me explain.  Go to different (a.k.a strategic) stores in your community where you can buy your groceries and other items.  I do a regular grocery order delivery every week, but we try to let Lee go to the Middle Eastern market to get fruit and veggies.  I know time is not in our favor, but I am really beginning to see how this can make such a big impact.  I know that Wal-Mart/Target is so enticing because it’s your one-stop-shop; Believe me, I’m with ya on this. We have Asda here in London, which is literally the British version of Wal-Mart.  You might have to go to multiple places to get everything you need, but think about all the relationships you can make at different shops (again, the “regular” thing comes in).  

#6 Ask for help - be humble.  

Do little things like asking for help with directions or advice.  Note: you will get unwanted advice, but swallow that pride and really listen to them-  you will learn something about that person that you didn’t know before.  Now, it might be their crazy parenting advice, but you will get insight to their background and their way of thinking… and it might blow your mind.  The (unwanted) advice that we have received from people here has been CRAZY.  I mean, things that just make you want to say, “What in the world are you thinking?” But that’s where the humbleness part comes to play :).

#7 Keep your home open (and food stocked).  

This is something I have greatly learned to LOVE since moving overseas.  The culture of Middle Eastern peoples is come, drop by, and stay a while, and there are times that I love this, and yet there are times where this style of living is really hard (because I am selfish with my time).  Let me say that we don’t own a big, beautiful home that is perfect for entertaining.  We have a small apartment with a couch (about the size of a loveseat), and four kitchen table chairs.  Entertaining and having people over is not convenient, but it’s something that we have chosen to make an effort to do with those around us, especially with our neighbors. We have invited them into our home so that they can see who we are behind our thin walls.  Oh, and the food stocked part - in our neck of the woods that means always have tea ready to be made and “biscuits” (cookies), nuts, and chocolate ready to be put in bowls and served.  I so wish that we would have had a more “open home” before we moved overseas.  Maybe like you, our home was really our refuge and a place where we could relax and be alone.  Sure we had people at our home and did things, but not with the heart that I have now.  I really, really hope that when we move back to the states one day that we will carry with us this open home (food stocked) way of living.  This having your home open thing also lets others see what and how your family interacts and how you love one another.

#8 Bake and Share.  

You can figure this one out without me typing a book :).

#9 Let others know you are praying for them and their families.  

I try to constantly let my friends know that I am praying for them.  If they tell me something that seems to be worrying them, I try to take that opportunity to carry their burdens and pray for them.  Oh, and a side note on this one- when you have people over in your home, pray FOR THEM BY NAME.  Game changer right there.

#10 (finally right?) Stay steady in your time of reading the Bible.  

This really should be #1.  If we want to be on mission for God, we have to know God, and the more we know God, the more we love Him.  It’s a growing pattern, I think.  The more I know, the more I grow, the more I love God and others.  

LA and her family live in London, England. Actually, Wembley - think Wembley Stadium (Olympics).  The stadium is across the street from their apartment!  LA loves to bake sweets, run (really just so that she can eat more sweets), be with new friends, explore the city of London, and drink as many cappuccinos as possible.  To see what else LA and her family are up to, check out her blog at theharpersbazaar.blogspot.com.

Today's post is a practical, encouraging post by David Schrock at the Gospel Coalition. We hope it revitalizes you as much as it did for us!

For many, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas leave us grateful but gassed. In the name of holiday festivities, December means attending multiple Christmas parties, traveling to see family and friends, and standing in line to get the ever-elusive "perfect gift."

As much joy as Christmas brings, if we aren't careful, holiday cheer can sap our energy and steal our joy. It is a great irony that the season of light often feels heavy. What can we do to find rest in this annual merry-thon?

Unlikely Christmas Verse

Though we don't think of Matthew 11:28 as a Christmas verse, it is. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" tells us why Jesus came. Although earthly labor is a good thing, in a fallen world our best works leave us tired and increase our unrighteousness before a holy God (Isa. 64:6) Therefore, like drinking water from the Dead Sea, our greatest efforts to find rest leave us thirsty.
To this universal problem, Jesus offers a solution. He invites us to come, that in service to him we may work under his easy and light yoke. Such a promise of rest is at the core of his gospel and fundamental to his incarnation.


Significantly, Jesus' invitation follows the announcement of his arrival. Earlier in Matthew 11, a weary sinner sends a message to Jesus asking about his identity. The inquirer is John the Baptist, and his good works have successfully landed him in Herod's jail. Of course, John isn't perceived to be a "sinner" like the woman in Luke 7. He is a faithful prophet of God who suffered much for the sake of righteousness. In Jesus' own estimation John is the cream of the old covenant crop (Matt. 11:11). Nevertheless, as a fallen son of Adam, he is weary and heavy laden.


So John sends his disciples to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?" Jesus replies with a Christmas catena—not cantata (those come later)—of Old Testament verses. Citing Isaiah's "gospel," he declares: "The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them" (Matt. 11:5; cf. Isa. 26:18-19; 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 53:4; 61:1).

To read the rest of this uplifting post, visit the Gospel Coalition here: Finding Rest in the Merry-Thon

We're nearing the end of the summer, and SEBTS ladies have been serving the Lord in so many ways! Today's post from Kim Humphrey tells about her travels to Montana with her husband Jay to work with cowboys. Read her encouraging post for more details!

Where will you be and what are your plans for the summer?

After 33 years, this is a summer of firsts for Jay and me!  We took our first mission trip together!  Spending most of our summer either in Wake Forest or the beach, we are most excited about the opportunity we were given to go on a mission trip to Montana.

Who will you be with?

We were blessed to be a part of a wonderful missions-minded church several years ago and were asked to join them on this trip.  Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh truly lives out missions both locally and internationally, and when the invite came, the Lord completely opened the door for us to say yes!

                        What will you be doing?

Prior to moving to Wake Forest for Jay to attend SEBTS in 2004, he and I raised livestock as a career – we were hog farmers in southeastern North Carolina for 23 years.  When we were contacted about the trip we were told it would be more servant/labor evangelism than anything.  We would be working the rodeo in Livingston, Montana with a local church plant there.  Working a rodeo . . . in Montana . . . representing Jesus by serving the locals and cowboys . . . ABSOLUTELY we were in!

How did you serve?

As we began to learn more about the trip, we became more excited!  We clearly saw God orchestrate the finances for us to go.  Our mission was to assist the church in Livingston during the rodeo week of July 1-5 with our physical labor.  For 5 mornings-beginning at 6:30-we prepared to clean the rodeo grounds and grandstand with trash pick-up as well as clean the bathrooms and port potties – not glamorous.  But all that my mind kept processing was how my Jesus served the lowly daily; saying a kind word, comforting the broken-hearted, washing dirty feet, and dying on a cross.  Serving is put in a whole new perspective when done through the eyes of Jesus; “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Every afternoon and evening, we cooked and served the cowboys and families a full course meal .  This was the hospitality that I definitely enjoy!  When they found out we had traveled from North Carolina just to serve them with the local church they always asked “Why?”  That opened the door to share a bit about Jesus, but also to show Christian love simply by our actions to them – all at no cost to them, freely fed “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) . . . just as salvation is given to us.  Servant evangelism is hard work, and it took me a week to recover, but it was worth every moment given! 

What were you most looking forward to?

To be perfectly honest, the part I was most excited about was serving with Jay in a place he has dreamed of going in a setting he is made for and loves.  When we returned, I was most excited by how God put this team together, the evidence of Christ seen and shown daily through hard work, and the hope and prayers that we could share with the cowboys and families as they risk their lives daily in a career that is truly designed for young men – living life on the edge of glory.  May I live for Christ on the edge of His glory! “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:31)

Lessons from the Field is a series from one of our own who is serving overseas.  Please join us as we learn about what God has taught and continues to teach her as she and her family serve. To view the earlier post from Amy Lynn* click here.

5.  A New Worship – Only God deserves the pedestal!

            The inevitable will happen, the moment when the person you have come to value, appreciate, and revere, screws up and comes crashing down off the pedestal.  This scenario has happened to me more times than I wish to count because what it means at the deeper heart level, is that I have mistakenly put man in a place that belongs only to God.  It was easy to look at different leaders and be wowed by their extensive experience, longevity and biblical knowledge.  Before I knew it, these leaders had inched their way up the pedestal in my mind, replacing the spot rightfully owned by the King of kings and Lord of lords.  No one is perfect however, and sooner or later someone does something that royally ticks you off or says something without discernment.  When the revere of a person becomes more important than worshipping God, idolatry rears its ugly head, plain and simple.   Of course I should learn from others, trust their knowledge and respect their authority, but this can never be replaced by venerating them.  God is the only one who deserves the pedestal. 

            It could be something different than a person like it was for me, such as worshipping my ability to work hard.  When lack of recognition came, it was easy to make an idol out of my ability to get the job done no matter what the cost or problem.  But what I soon discovered was that rather than working unto the Lord, I worked hard to please myself and feel some sense of accomplishment.  My own abilities had a way of teasing and tempting me to worship something else.  No one recognizes over achievement the way you think they will, so I had to learn to keep my eyes focused on pleasing the Father.  I had to learn to distinguish between what was important to finish and work that was extra, simply to try and make myself look good.  He alone is the reason I work hard.  He is the only one I honor when I don’t waste time and are prepared.

            It is easy to fill your day with time wasters.  There is never a shortage of crises on the field.  Learning to triage these problems adequately brings glory and honor to God, because rather than waste time chasing a bunch of rabbits, I am able to focus on the most important task that He would have me complete in that moment.  When God is on the pedestal of my life, His guiding hand is always reaching out to direct my steps and order my life.  God is not one of chaos but of order.  He does not confuse us but makes all things clear.  When my focus changed from fulfilling my list and turned to worship and how best to please Him, the time wasters were reduced to insignificant distractions.  

6.  A Better Plan – His!

            The fact that distractions will come is very important, because what I have seen in my life, is that my mind is continually wandering away from God’s list for my day and becoming boggled down with these things.  Time is relative.  We work on His timetable and on His schedule.  Just because I want to accomplish some task for the day, does not mean that this is God’s will or plan for me.  One way I am learning to combat these distractions is to prayerfully order my day according to what I am hearing from the Lord when I am not distracted.  This means, waking early, sitting quietly and listening.  Once my list is made, I have a plan but God’s is always bigger.  If something comes along that day that I know should be accomplished in priority to my list, I can peacefully complete the work and know that God is the one in superseding the plans. 

            Actively listening to the Father is also the way I know when to speak and how to speak into the lives of my friends.  Many times in the past what I wanted was for people to listen because I had something compelling and convincing to say.  What is better is that God is the one doing the talking.  I do not have anything new to say really when it comes to sharing.  It is God’s word that is new and life changing.  Speaking with Muslims can often times be discouraging and disappointing when you try to make a point and they disagree or they use the same argument.  If I am listening with my ears only, I am tempted to fight back which produces no results and no heart change.  Rather, quieting my mouth and mind, actively listening to the deeper meaning behind their words and focusing on what the Spirit is doing, produces an ability to speak into someone’s life with truth and wisdom.  I had to learn this lesson the hard way but in the end it is always better to crucify my way and just do it His. 

            Among the more difficult lessons I have learned the last year and a half is how to do it all and not lose my mind.  You may be thinking that either I am super woman and I assure you I am far from it, or that this is an impossible task.  But as a wise author once stated, “We can accomplish everything that God has ordained for us to do in this life…and it’s probably not half of what’s on your to-do list.”  Next week, I will look at A Tight Rope Life – How to do it all, Family, Language and Ministry.  See you then!

Amy Lynn* has been married to her husband for 15 years.  He graduated last May from SEBTS with an MDIV in International Church Planting.  They are currently serving in the Middle East.  They have 4 children, ages 13, 11, 5 and 2.  Amy Lynn enjoys reading, writing and working out when she is not studying Arabic or visiting friends. 
*Name has been changed to ensure protection for our contributor.