Whenever Lexi heard about global missions at her home church or in her youth group, she would shut down. It wasn’t for her. When she accepted Jesus as her Savior as a young girl and rededicated her whole life to Him in High School, she understood her mission field was her community. Reaching people with the gospel in her circle made sense... but going overseas? It just wasn’t on her heart and mind. Last year, at a Salt Company Thursday gathering (Citylight's college ministry), she heard something new and that changed her perspective and life.
“That night at Salt,” Lexi shared, “Travis, co-lead director, talked about how if you surrender to Christ, your “yes” is for Him first and your career and academic goals should be second. He told a story about a missionary who put his work for the kingdom before marrying, before everything and by the end of that story, I felt a big nudge. I knew, and not like pressure, that I needed to take a step out of my comfort zone and in my faith. I knew I needed to apply for the next Salt global trip.”
Lexi applied and was accepted to go with a global team this past summer to serve in Southeast Asia. The team partnered with a local church to meet college students at the nearby university, invite them to a local church’s activities, and build relationships with them. During the ten days, two things stood out to Lexi. The first was the Thai people themselves.
“The Thai people are completely open about their lives and so hospitable,” Lexi described. “In order to build relationships, I had to let the people I was serving see my heart by being transparent. It showed me and reminded me of Jesus’ ministry. He built relationships with people. I couldn’t be guarded or protective of myself nor keep to myself. I had to be open and to go deep with personal things. It is a contrast to my life with how private and guarded and individualistic I am.”
The second thing that stood out was how hopeless most people because they don’t know Jesus. Lexi met a woman who said she couldn’t find peace. She always felt restless and tried all the Buddhist practices. For Lexi, it was apparent that on the inside they are broken and restless because they didn’t know the hope of Christ.
“That can be related to our society in a way,” Lexi exclaimed. “We also can put a face on that says “I’m doing great” or “I’m a Godly woman,” but what is the posture of our heart? How can we reach people’s hearts instead of what we see on the outside of them? We also got to see the red light district and the women that were there didn’t seem anxious or distressed. They seemed apathetic. I think it’s normal for them to feel no value. But, their bodies do have value! It was so cool to see God work through this group of women from the team who go into the bars and bring light into those women's spaces. To build relationships with them. That’s a hard setting to be a light in. We see sin, but everyone carries around sin. Open or hidden sin, we all have it. Those women need to be reached just like any unreached person.”
Lexi is grateful for what God showed her in Thailand but also, for the people who hosted their global team.
“They were so hospitable and open with us,” Lexi disclosed. “They gave us time for sharing struggles, to communicate with one another. They met each and every one of us, and guided us through struggles. I am so grateful for that team and for our own team. We bonded there and there was no hostility or grumbling. We were positive and worked together well allowing others to flourish in their strengths but still challenged others with growth and in their strengths. The team made us feel so safe and showed us how to trust in the work that God had us there for. We were safe.”
Throughout the trip and now looking back, Lexi has grown in love for others. God has changed her, and now and forever, she only wants to continue to grow.
“I pray God burdens my heart for the lost,” Lexi said with earnestness. “It’s easy for me to judge. Instead, I can look at people and love them and be gracious. God is replacing my judgments with His grace. I’m learning the balance of my comfort zone and to step out, stretch, be tested and grow in my faith. For example, with kids on my campus, it might be scary to walk up to new freshmen and build up new relationships and put myself out there but it’s important. Those students have equal value. I have a different heart for the kids at my school. Instead of withdrawing from that life, the party life and the unreached... instead of not associating, not engaging in that... I will step out and build relationships with them and love them and show them grace. The other thing is to not just put on a face of Godliness, but let my faith be a change of heart and let God lead and let God do that work. I can be transparent with others on my struggles instead of the same old answer of “there’s nothing going on in my life.””
Through serving on a global team and the people God set in front of them, Lexi began learning how to surrender all to God. She now recognizes the purpose and plan of “going to the nations.” In closing, Lexi shared this invitation with the church:
“I highly encourage all to ‘GO.’ To have an open heart, not to see fruit in others, and not to just bring others to Christ but for more of what God must show you in other cultures. God has a lot to show and a lot to say. I think when you are abroad, forced out of your comfort zone and into dependence, you are more open to the Spirit. I felt closer to God because I was leaning on him intentionally. He has so much to show you and He takes pleasure in showing you how he works in all different lives and hearts. It is most powerful to see how God moves in the lives around you. If you have those eyes to see, He will guide you and lead you to show you great things. He will show you His purpose and His heart for you and for others.”
Like Lexi, if you are interested in taking this step of “going,” in order to learn more of what is means to join with Jesus on His mission to all nations wherever you are at, please reach out by sending an email to: luke@citylightomaha.org.