M is for MISSION

We had already watched the first two thrilling encounters and eldest son had told us that the third was possibly the best of all. It was a Saturday night and we settled down to watch on Sky, choosing the 9pm start rather than the 8pm slot on multiview. We missed the first minute or two but by the time we joined the action, Ethan Hunt was in fine form, dangling an enemy out of an aeroplane, then having him snatched by helicopter in a daring raid on a long bridge. And for the next hour the action never let up as we perched on the edge of our sofa,wondering what or who was around the next corner. We were in a sweat, exhausted by the on-screen action and at one point, wife stated, 'I'll not be able to watch this much longer, if it continues at this pace.' But after only an hour, all the baddies had been defeated, the crime had been solved, Ethan went off on honeymoon, the credits rolled and we were left looking at each other, still waiting for the plot to develop.Surely MI3 hadn't been that short a film. It was then that I glanced at the channel number and realised that we were watching the film with the eight o'clock start instead of nine and had missed the whole of the first hour. I guess to understand the film, having missed so much, would have been Mission Impossible!

There used to be one every couple of years. A big tent would be erected in a field, inside a stage would be built, big enough to accommodate a choir of forty or fifty and a makeshift pulpit. There would be an organ at one side and a piano facing it and the main body of space remaining would be filled with wooden forms and loose, metal framed chairs with a thin wooden seat. On opening night, stewards would direct cars into the field and park them in a uniform arrangement while others would welcome folks at the tent 'door', offering them a hymnbook and the choice of seat. Near to starting time, the choir seats had been filled up and each member wore the same 'uniform' with the ladies all sporting white blouses and 'berries' and the men arrayed in matching white shirts and coloured ties. I guess the white was meant to symbolise the 'sins shall be as white as snow' message that was preached, with slight variation, every night so I hope the choir had all clean hearts as well as clean clothing! Soon after the preacher would emerge from a little caravan where a few souls had been praying and take his place behind the lectern. When the service got under way, it almost invariably took the same pattern with some rousing singing of old standards from the 'Songs of Victory' hymnbook, a couple of 'pieces' from a visiting soloist or group, one or two 'anthems' from the choir, a Bible reading and then the sermon. The preacher was a good orator, had a wonderful Bible knowledge, always came armed with a few jokes and stories to pull the heart strings at the right moment, but , most of all, was faithful in his preaching. I guess he was quite a celebrity in many ways and people looked forward to his coming in the same way as some folks anticipate a concert, and though he seemed entirely comfortable in his localised fame, it certainly wasn't his desire to seek such honours. Some thirty to forty-five minutes later, he would ask people to respond by issuing an appeal to either raise their hand or come forward, while everyone sang, 'Just as I am' or something similar. And many folks did find God at such gatherings. Others found their future wives or husbands and most people who attended night after night, found it a great social occasion for a few weeks and when it was over, probably found it difficult enough to return to their old routines. I don't see so many of these tent missions or crusades now, nor indeed the small portable halls that used to be erected for itinerant preachers, but I know many people whose lives were changed through such events.

In the past year, four of our good friends have stepped away from their work because they believe God has called them to work 'full time' for Him in some form of mission. All possessed good jobs, humanly speaking, but realise that the job they have been given to do will be so much better, even though it will not bring the sort of financial rewards that secular work provided. However, their inner peace about their decisions is proof enough that this is where God wants them to be. It has taken courage but when God opens the door, only a fool would try to shut it in His face. One of the four has interviewed Presidents and Prime Ministers around the world but that pales into insignificance beside a conversation with the Creator and the opportunity to tell the world His story. Two of the others have wonderful skills in teaching children and their calling allows them to help the young in Peru and Africa both directly and indirectly. The fourth, already a pastor, is proof that even when we are involved in God's work, He may take us along a completely new road to do a new work for Him. Mission can be at home or far away but whatever He calls you to do, it's always a special assignment and, with His help, it's never Mission Impossible!