After the resurrection of Jesus and before he ascended into heaven, he called the 11 disciples to a mountain top. Drawing their gaze to the land and people and cities all around them, He said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
God’s commission then has not changed for His people now. God calls us to leverage our lives long term and in the here and there. Citylight Church recognized this opportunity and has offered tangible steps through Citylight Global. Citylight Global’s mission is to empower Citylight Omaha to faithfully join Jesus’ kingdom movement of multiplying disciples and churches among all peoples. One way is through short term global trips. These trips expose us to God’s global mission and the work of our long-term partners and local churches around the world. Our aim is to bless these partners and their communities while deepening our own understanding of God’s heart for the nations. From these experiences, some may be called to go, and others to faithfully send and pray.
This past summer with Citylight’s college ministry The Salt Company (Salt), Kaitlyn Lynch served on the Dominican Republic (DR) trip. Having gone on trips before with her High School group, she thought she had a good background and a strong relationship for the Lord. After an announcement for summer missions, she felt the burden on her heart to go.
“At Salt, the Lord said I gave you these four years in High School to prepare you to serve others,” Kaitlyn confessed. “It was a call to go serve people in the world and in classrooms that needed to hear the gospel. Personally, the burden was to serve with others and to share my experiences with other people.”
The team’s goal in the DR was to connect with college students and the community. They did this in coffee shops and with outreach events. Mission for those 10 days was about making relationships and loving the people.
“It wasn’t about checking a box and saying I accomplished this,” Kaitlyn shared. “It’s not what I did, but the Lord moving in and through me. One of the many examples of this was one guy from the DR who knew English and was asking questions about the Bible. He read it but didn’t understand it. I felt that with my experience of learning how to pursue the Lord, I could share how to read the Bible. For me, you have to soften your heart and allow God to move in your heart.”
It was through many encounters with people like this that gave Kaitlyn an opportunity to practice faithfulness. She realized clearly that going on mission is God’s mission and not her expectation of it. Through this, an outpouring of patience and humility and a reason to depend on God was revealed.
“I had to be patient in ministry then and now,” Kaitlyn described. “It was praying for the Lord to reveal that. It’s nothing I can do but what the Lord is doing in my life. I am a vessel for the Lord. It’s a testament of the Lord’s love for me. And now that I’m back, it’s a burden that these girls I walk with at Salt see and therefore need Jesus. All I can do is love them and be in a relationship with them. I ask God to break my heart for what breaks his. He did and still does. He softened my heart for people.”
Kaitlyn felt a call to pursue God’s people earlier this year. Now that she’s back, the call has remained the same. She has stepped into Salt leadership to continue being faithful in pursuing God’s people. It’s all about relationships.
“The missionary goes to continue those relationships that were made,” Kaitlyn acknowledged the call. “It’s to make disciples but it’s also to steward those relationships. Long term is sacrificing their lives to be intentional with those people to help grow them. Short term is planting the seeds. It’s something I am praying about. I will continue to go and plant those seeds but it is hard. Selfishly I want to be comfortable. I want to make my life look the way I want it to, but the reality is God does not call us into comfort but to serve. The glimpse I got in the DR made the discomfort and hard worth it for the kingdom of God. I am wrestling with the fact your life is not about you, it takes humility and something I am learning as well as patience and God’s timing.”
So, who is called and how? Kaitlyn would say enthusiastically "everyone and every day."
“Even on a 10-day trip God will make an impact and seeds will be planted,” Kaitlyn admitted with a smile. “Even if it feels insignificant ... We don’t know what the Lord will do. The grace of people coming up to me weeks or years later and saying thank you for being a friend during that season is worth it. It might not seem important to you, but it is still for you. God changes people's lives, and you will be changed. We must go because the Lord calls us to. When you get a taste of it, you want more of it. When you see the Lord move, and you will, you want to see it every day. How can you say no to something so beautiful and full of truth and life?”
Considering the call is for everyone and every day, the invitation is to first go to the Lord in prayer. He will through his Holy Spirit direct you and guide you.
“I have learned, especially this past year and a half, only the Lord knows,” Kaitlyn concluded. “It takes time to sit in His presence and hear Him speak to you. He will bring people in your life to help you to discern. It’s not about us figuring it out. He used people in my life. He used me. Have a conversation with people who you know are obedient to the Lord and ask for advice. I’m studying physical therapy in college, so what does that look like for God’s kingdom? I don’t know what exactly the path is yet for me, but I am leaning into the gifts God has given me and am prayerful to steward them to serve His kingdom.”
Church family ... Go. And that doesn’t necessarily mean going across the country or over the ocean. It means your backyard, neighborhood, classroom, or the inside of your van during carpool. Kaitlyn walked away from a short term global trip with a new understanding of this. If there is a desire to have this same understanding, Kaitlyn would implore you to pray and ask God to allow you to see the lost and the people around you.
“Jesus died on the cross and that speaks louder than words. To lay down our lives to serve and to see the people around us speaks louder than anything we can verbalize. We don’t have to go overseas to be a part of the mission of Christ.”
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Like with Kaitlyn, short-term trips give our members a glimpse of the long-term call to join Jesus on His mission - whether that’s right here or by crossing real boundaries of language and culture to places with little access to the gospel. It’s been exciting to see how Jesus has worked in and through Citylight this past year as we’ve sought to join Him faithfully - both locally and in sending long-term workers among the nations.
On November 9th, during our Global Focus Week, we invite you to come hear from two of our Global Partners, Dave and Chris Manfred! They have faithfully served for decades in Cambodia, witnessing a church-planting movement among the Khmer people, the Bible translated into new languages, and the first baptisms among previously unreached people groups.
We’ll also celebrate all that God has done through Citylight Global this past year and share opportunities for the year ahead - including:
- Short-term trips
- Discovery Groups – spaces to wrestle with, “What is the mission of God… and what is my role in it?”
- Local mission opportunities
- Global internships (1 year overseas)
Whether you’re simply curious about Citylight’s global opportunities, passionate about sending missionaries, or personally burdened for the nations, we’d love for you to join us!
November 9 | 12:30–4:00 PM | Midtown Location
Lunch provided. No childcare available.
Register here: https://citylight.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3206828