Vertical Life Missions - A World Away

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A Higher View

When you add to these facts that this region is 95% unreached by the Gospel of a Jesus Who is alive; then the Church finds itself with a tremendous challenge. That challenge isn't a matter of isolated location. It is more a matter of having isolated our hearts from the true mandate of the Gospel. We lack a deeper understanding of the more perfect will of God when it comes to loving and serving the poor in our efforts. And as Joel Wickre stated in a recent Christianity Today article : "...our inability to identify with people across the wealth divide can subvert our good intentions in missions, hurting the people we're trying to love."

The fundamental goal of Vertical Life Missions is to see a 'relationship touch' take place across this wealth divide. That touch must take place in the context of our works. It must be done in faith. And it will still require the same money. Yet a relationship touch that is able to exceed sentiment; establish true relationship; and make us one spirit and family in Christ is far more valuable than any outward work we will ever accomplish.

Without a person-to-person touch of relationship between us which brings increase in both directions; the works we produce are of little spiritual good. If we do not cross the wealth-divide to truly know one another as brothers (beyond Helper & Helped);we are falling short of the heart & will of God.

Reaching Beyond Words & Walls

Bolivia is the fourth poorest nation in the world and the poorest nation in South America. Without a doubt, the impact of that poverty on the natural lives of the Bolivian people is disastrous. However, as heartbreaking as that may be, it cannot compare to the depths of Bolivia's spiritual poorness.

The core goal of Vertical Life Missions is to cross the necessary bridges to go unto marginalized people; identifying with them in love, where they are.

We are equipped with a two-handed Gospel of hope. We want to work to reach the lost and effectively disciple those who want to know Christ.

Just as importantly;we seek to improve the quality of their lives in realistic ways. Their needs are many. And those needs are doors of entrance for us to have and develop relationship with them.

Love demands relationship by service. However, works apart from genuine relationship are not a true demonstration of God's Perfect Love.

We want to walk in Perfect Love.

The Mind of Vertical Life Missions

Like a poor, needy Lazarus laying at the backdoor of the rich man's world; over 64% of Bolivia's families live in horrid poverty. Do they need food and medical care and all kinds of help from those empowered by God to give it? Most certainly, they do. If however we do not share a living Gospel with people, which takes us into realized relationships as brethren in one Spirt beyond our "Helper-Helped" roles; then we lack a fully biblical world view of Christ's purpose regarding Kingdom relationships.

Crumb sharing you see is really quite easy for the financially capable. It touches our sentiment and makes us feel good about ourselves in rather dangerous ways. The truth however is that many of our mission efforts have little to do with the work of the cross changing us personally. Jesus' cross was relational. Ours too must be relational.

Considering whether the 'works' we do have any significant relational depth to them at all, should give us pause for thought. The real tragedy in the biblical story of Lazarus and the rich man is that even though the rich man's world-view led him to help Lazarus by mercifully throwing him some crumbs...never once did it allow him to consider becoming Lazarus' friend. What a tremendous opportunity he missed.