Reclaiming the Spirit of Mission:
Living Faith Out Loud
By Janjay Innis with Jesse N. Love | Photo by The General Board of Global Ministries
Editor’s Note: Janjay Innis serves as US-2 Missionary for the United Methodist Church and as a social justice advocate at Tacoma Community House in Washington State. This article serves as part 1 of a 2-part report.
Calling myself a “missionary” is something I struggle with – but redefining and reclaiming mission through my work is allowing me to embrace it.
In the past, being a missionary has had negative connotations as it’s always been about people from the west imposing their ideas on continents like Africa or Asia in a paternalistic way. This paternalistic view of mission touts “I have all the tools” or “I have all the answers” or “I’m here to help you” or “I know all the ways you can live better” without ever acknowledging what the people already know and can do for themselves. Thus in the past and even now, damage has been done more than good.
What I want to embrace about mission today is its capacity for building partnerships that support people as they advocate for themselves. This new model of mission makes me so happy to self-identify as a missionary; I am grateful to have a voice at this time that will help usher God’s people to think about mission in these new ways.
I celebrate the way in which God continues to send us; knowingly we want to do good but thinking about it as “our mission” can be overwhelming and far too great of a job to do alone. However, when we think of it as a continuation of “God’s mission” – made tangible when God stepped into human history and dwelled among us, we are suddenly empowered to boldly do that which we’ve never done before.
When I think about how the spirit of mission can mirror that which God intends it to be, I am certain that what is needed is the energy and passion of young people who want to live their faith out loud. The US-2 program is a gem because it is a way for young people to do just that – live faith out loud. Investing in young adult mission programs give young people the opportunity grow in personal holiness and social holiness.
To help this generation and generations to come reclaim mission, please support the US-2 program though your gifts and prayers.
To be continued in “Reclaiming the Spirit of Mission: Immigrant Advocacy in Olympia” in Channels 71, coming soon!
Your gifts can be sent to Treasurer’s Office c/o PNWUMC, P.O. Box 13650, Des Moines, WA 98198.
Please indicate in the memo “Janjay Innis’ Advance #3021836”
Jesse N. Love serves as the print & publications manager of the PNWUMC.
