COVER SECTION
FAMILY VACATIONS WITH A PURPOSE
By Mary DeMuth
When our family helped plant a church in Southern France, our eldest daughter’s perspective changed. “I realize now that God is everywhere. He’s not an American.” You don’t need to permanently relocate to experience perspective change with your kids. Many families vacation with a purpose. These servant-like excursions have helped change and shape families, solidifying their kids’ beliefs.
WHY MINISTER AS A FAMILY?
Mary L. Gore, resort missionary for the North American Mission Board explains, “What better way to share the love of Jesus than to take something you enjoy as a family and use it as a platform to share the gospel?” Living out the gospel together in another place enlivens it for our kids. Serving together also deepens the impact of discipling our children. “It’s not enough to talk about it. And it’s not enough to go without them and share the results. Like most concepts, doing missions together is best taught hands on,” says Keith Ivey, head of Georgia Mountain Resort Ministries.
WHAT IS A VACATION WITH A PURPOSE?
A vacation with a purpose is simply an extended outing with your family where you actively seek to serve or minister to people. It can mean serving a campground staff or offering water to people on a hot mountain trail. It can mean helping a church planter engage a people group in the middle of New York City. Or flying over an ocean and joining alongside a missionary family. In short, it’s adding service and a bent toward evangelism to your summer vacation activities.
ON MISSION • Fall 2011 31
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