| Limitations or Opportunities:
Home and Foreign Missions
by Rich Mariott
"Is it really making a difference?" a man asked me at a district Men's Convention, a few years ago. He stated, "Do you think that we can really make a difference?" he continued, "We are limited by finances, lack of volunteers, and lack of time with our busy schedules."
I answered "Yes and yes!"
Yes I know, with God's help, we can make a difference!
Yes, if we are not careful, we can limit ourselves through our perception, finances, and time! The key word is "we" because we are limited! When we look through our worldly eyes, we see limitations.
God is limited only by the limitations we place upon ourselves. When we open our eyes to see that through Christ all things are possible, we begin to see unlimited resources available.
I could share many stories about MAPS teams doing projects in a foreign country or at home, and once they got there the project looked overwhelming-impossible to do in their allotted time frame. "How can we ever finish?" was the thought.
But their prayer became, "Lord not by my, but by Your strength we can do this!" At the end, to everyone's amazement, it was completed! Totally unthinkable but accomplished through God!
Having been on several of these projects, both home and foreign, and having a strong construction background, I can tell you that it seemed impossible when working with many non-skilled construction people. Even if they were skilled, the amount of work that needed to be accomplished seemed impossible. Add to this, the tools are generally less than what is available here in the U.S.A. We would just pray "Lord help us to accomplish Your will, and we recognize that it is by Your strength not ours." Guess what? The "impossible" work was completed.
Instead of seeing limitations we need to see tremendous opportunities. Today we have more opportunities than ever in history to make a difference. If we only see our limitations, then we fail to see God's unlimited resources.
I personally believe any "opportunity worth anything is joined at the hip with the word challenge. " Sometimes it takes a challenge for us to realize that it can not be done by ourselves-to say "Lord not by my strength, but by Your strength, can we do this!"
A vehicle can only go somewhere when we put it into motion. So exercising faith becomes the vehicle for us to accomplish great things through Jesus Christ.
Royal Rangers will have more opportunities than ever. Boys will receive credit through many opportunities in the new merit-driven advancement system. Through participation in joint ventures with other departments such as Speed The Light and AIM-ambassadors in missions, Convoy of Hope outreaches, AGHM (home missions), AGWM (world missions), BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade), and LFTL (Light for the Lost). Leaders will have additional opportunities through MAPS Construction (construction overseas), Pathfinders, and disaster relief opportunities.
My prayer is for this issue of High Adventure to bring awareness of ministries and opportunities available to help foreign and home missions. I trust this issue will inspire you to set goals, and challenge yourself, and exercise faith.
Yes, I know, with God's help, we can make a difference!
Your Commander and friend,
Rich Mariott
National Commander
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