Missions... what does it mean?

I have been reading for my final missions class at LCU today and its making me think so much. I am taking "Prep for Cross-Cultural Ministry" with Rob Maupin. And wow, it's going to be a tough class. But this is the capstone class for missions majors and the one that I have been working towards over the last 3 years. And I am ready to take it on. The textbook I have been reading today is one that I read last summer, but am realizing just how much is really packed into it that is valuable for my training as a cross-cultural worker (the term missionary has too many negative connotations today... I read that in the book). And one of the things that has really struck me today is the definition that the authors gave for the term missions. They defined missions as "referring to everything involved in carrying out God's mission on a generational, gender and global level (Acts 1:8)" (Encountering Missionary Life and Work by Tom Steffen and Lois McKinney Douglas). And that definition is one that just clicked in my head as making perfect sense. I cannot even begin to tell you how many conversations I have had since high school about missions and being a missions (or intercultural studies) major with people just staring blankly back at me because they have no idea what any of it means. And then I stand there trying to stumble over an explanation that they may or may not understand in the end. It is such a tough topic sometimes and it is one that I am realizing will never be completely understandable. But no matter what... it is simply referring to whatever it takes to complete God's mission. And that is as simple as it can get in my mind. Reading for this class is really challenging to think about my philosophy of cross-cultural ministry and what it means to commit my life to that. I know that I have been called to full-time ministry in some cross-cultural capacity. And for me, simply doing ministry with the urban culture (or anything that is not "my comfortable, white, suburban, middle class culture") is cross-cultural for me. And I cannot lie... that excites me to no end. As much as I am scared about taking this class and the challenge that it will be for me this semester, as much as I am scared about being a senior this year, as much as I am scared about what will come my way next year.... I am so excited to be getting the opportunity to serve my Jesus in a way that is so different, that is so challenging, that is so out of my comfort-zone. And this goes for my service learning this year and my internship next year. And whatever ministry opportunities that may come my way after my internship. As I write this I can hear the words of Isaiah when God asked who would go for Him and Isaiah responds, "here I am. Send me." And that is my prayer today for myself and for you. I pray that we all would hear God's voice in the wind calling us to a life of service (whether overseas or at home) and respond by saying, "here i am. send me." Missions... its simply whatever it takes to carry out God's mission. And a response to a call.