How Do I Go, If I'm Not Able to Go?

Written By: Matt Heft, Elder and Cuba Mission Trip Leader

At Gateway Church, we talk all the time about going. And specifically we mean going into our community, around the United States, or around the world to share the Gospel and encourage believers wherever we go. But what if you find yourself in a season of life where going somewhere isn’t possible? Perhaps you’re a parent with young kids or health issues keep you from traveling or maybe your work schedule just isn’t flexible enough to be gone for a week. Whatever the reason…you feel the call to go, you’re just not able to go. What then?

Here are five things that you can do to go, even if you’re not able to right now.

1. Pray. Would you be willing to commit to praying for missions work around the world? How about adopting a specific country to pray for? Through Operation World or Voice of the Martyrs, you could even get more specific about global needs. Even closer to home, how about committing to be a prayer warrior for an upcoming trip sponsored by Gateway Church? In late February, I will be leading a team of ten to Havana, Cuba. Would you be willing to pray for us daily until our trip is over on March 3?

2. Give Money. Taking short term trips or going to the mission field costs money. Has God blessed you to be able to help fund short or long term mission work? Your faithful giving to Gateway Church contributes to this, but it is a special blessing when our teams receive gifts from our members for the trip they may be going on. It’s a tangible way that Gateway Church says, “we love you and we support you”. If you would like to give to the Cuba team, you can do so here. Contact the church office if there is a specific trip you'd like to donate towards.

3. Give Donations. As we prepare for our upcoming trip to Cuba, I’m really burdened for the humanitarian needs of the Cuban people. I’ve seen several news articles about the exodus of Cubans, as they try to get to other countries where they can begin to meet basic needs. In anticipation of our upcoming trip, I would like to collect over-the-counter medications (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, vitamins, Tums) that can be distributed throughout the house-church network. I personally don’t like taking much medication, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a headache and have nothing that I could take to get some relief. If you would like to donate any of these items, there will be a bin outside of the County Road 9 Campus office door or in the office at the North Main Campus. Please bring them in by February 21.

4. Encourage & Equip. For our trip to Cuba, we are planning some talks on different books in the Old Testament. We will be doing this teaching with house church leaders in and around Havana. Maybe you would want to be a part of reviewing and listening to our talks ahead of time, so that we can have as great of an impact as possible as we share God’s Word. Let us know if you are willing to do this by February 6.

5. Passport. Do you have a passport? Is it expired? Stop…and check right now. I’ll wait. Whether you are planning to go on a trip soon or not, I would encourage you to get an updated passport. This way, when God opens up an opportunity for you to go, you’ll be able to go immediately and not get held up, just because you didn’t do some paperwork.

I hope you’ll consider more on how you can go without ever leaving Findlay. Feel free to reach out to me or any of the GO Team if you want to discuss these ideas (or others).

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