Riding a Wave

I don't swim, so I don't ride waves although I admit I am envious of those who do. Yet the metaphor of the Spirit of God moving like a wave draws me in and causes only one reaction within me: I want to be on it! I know I can't swim in it, control it, steer or maneuver it, and that is 100% alright! All I can do is ride it, and the out-of-control sense that comes with it is simply something you have to be willing to trade in for.

That's how I've felt, out-of-control, and it has not been very pleasant. But today I am reminded that I'm riding a wave, and I'm fairly certain it's a Spirit-generated wave. What is it?

Can you think of the answer to this question: What do Kenya, Nigeria, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, South Korea, and China have in common? Probably not a lot of things, but most likely more than one. Can you think of one?

Regardless of what you came up with, I can bet it wasn't this: People from those nations of the world are answering the call to become the Next Wave of cross-cultural world-changers. That's right, nations who are typically considered "recipients" of God's global mission are clearly and confidently and with no lack of abandon jumping into the movement of God and declaring themselves wave-runners, surfers who ride the wave of God's Spirit as He continues to bring His purposes for the world to His grand conclusion.

What's just as fascinating is that the wave is of the same Spirit as previous ones - most recent the wave North American Christians rode as the leading pioneer missionaries of the 19th century - but has unique specifications of its own. God's plan is so intricately marvelous that you can't predict His movement, you can only hope to stay close enough to His heart to catch it. And that's precisely what our brothers and sisters in these and many other nations have done: They have heard the voice of God, they have been captured by His heart, and they have embraced His mind (and global strategy) for making His glory fill the earth.

And wouldn't you know it, God doesn't just forget the former wave-runners, but He invites us to take up our role in this New Wave and eagerly hopes we say YES to His designs and desires for us! Our understanding of World Missions has been severely challenged and changed over the past 10 years. And instead of Kristi and I just being two more American missionaries out in the sea of global chaos, His wisdom has drawn us to a far better task than we could have imagined - of being servants and facilitators for the multitudes who will ride that wave and perhaps, just maybe, be that generation that sees the Great Commission to completion.

And if you're reading this, the best part is that you too have a chance to be part of this tidal movement. While the peoples of the world who once received the Gospel are now positioned to lead the Gospel movement of the century, they still need us! We are tasked with equipping, strengthening and encouraging their role on the global stage, like "Barnabases" who support the emergent "Paul's" who are about to revolutionize the world.

The world has changed, and God's purposes have anticipated every single move! He is calling His servants from all corners of the earth, and giving us a special role in the process. The Imagine Network will serve as fuel for the propulsion of this movement by serving the local church all over the world to be the instruments of global change. The Gospel will be planted afresh in old places, and anew in places long barren. And behind every Kenyan, Kyrgyz, and Korean who does this, there will be a wide cloud of cheering Western witnesses saying "Go ahead! We are with you heart and soul" (1 Samuel 14:7).

So, are you riding the Wave of God's story in the vast sea of His purposes for humanity? Or are you in a kiddie pool creating and riding your own waves as long as you can make them last?

Imagine ... changing the world.