Why Missions?

My heart is missions. In the past years I've been blessed to go on 4 mission trips around the United States, Detroit, Dallas, Syracuse, and Philadelphia, with Student Worship, and under the leadership of Phil Chaney. From the first mission trip to Detroit in 2008, I completely fell in love with missions, and living out the great commission not just in my community but in the inner cities where it is godless. Time and time again I come away knowing greater things are still to be done. There have been so many incredible stories, and testimonies, miracles, and such spiritual growth from all I have encountered on these trips. God has chosen me, He has commissioned me, as He has all of us. I have sensed the Lord working in a special way in my life. I know He has called me to ministry, and I really believe it is to be a missionary.
I'm entering into the beginning stages of the ministry God is calling me too. The journey has been long getting here, it's not been easy, I do not see this as my blessing because I deserve it, or because He owes me. This is me blessing my Savior, and doing His work because I owe Him everything, and He deserves it. He wants to use everyone who is willing, I don't see myself as some special human, but I do know His anointing is on my life. I'm honored to do His work. The theology of missions is this, It is God's mission: missio dei a revelation of Himself. The mission is not mine, or anyone's. It's not so much God having mission for the church, but God having a church for His mission in the world. He is equipping me as I go, He did not call me equipped. The message has been the same through the ages, and it will never change. To God be the Glory, great things He has done!
I remember it was last May, May 5, 2012 to be exact when Dr. Danny Akin came to preach at my church First Baptist-Indian Trail, that morning God got a hold of my heart, and I sensed Him calling me once more to answer the call to ministry. Most of all God was looking for my complete and total surrender. I had been running from Him. I surrendered to the calling, and proclaimed it publically the following Sunday. The months rolled on and God began doing a special work in my life, drawing me back to Him. August 26 I was baptized at the outdoor baptism my church holds every August, God had radically changed my life. October 2012 I read a book that would totally wreck my life and bring me before my Almighty Father convicted, and totally burdened for missions. It shook my world, and my prayer and thoughts became, What can I as, Allison Baker, who is called by God do? How do I make an impact for Christ? Can I aid in changing my generation? The name of the book is, "Revolution in World Missions" written by K.P. Yahannan. The following month I faced the tragic death of a woman I was acquainted with, to be honest with you I couldn't stand the woman, she was causing problems within my family. I began to turn over and over in my mind could I have been a better witness, I wasn't positive of where her soul was, and I knew her! It shook me up. In the midst of this I wrote a song called, "A Prayer for the Lost" a song that poured out of my heart onto paper, I sing this song almost every night before I go to bed, and it has been the sincere prayer of my heart:

"My prayers are many tonight, as I lay my head on my pillow.
Many tears blind my eyes.
But Lord, I don't know what to say
And I can't sleep when so many don't know your Name.
And, Father, You said you'd wipe my tears away
But, I want to see like You.
Give me the words to say, help them find their way.
So many are hurting, and die without You.
Could I be the difference, and lead them to You?
Lord use me, Lord use me." (Copyright, Closet Productions, 2013)

All my life the Lord has given me visions and dreams. As I have drawn closer to Him, the more He reveals to me. April 11, 2013, I had this dream that I came to church, and there were a bunch of people about to get on this really small bus. We had on matching shirts, but mine didn't fit, it was to small. I can't remember where we were going, it was definitely a mission trip. I got onto the bus, didn't know anyone surrounding me. I looked over and saw Koral and Phil waving, and smiling and cheering the whole team on. As the bus pulled out, I got to thinking I don't have my phone, my mom doesn't know where I am, I have no luggage, I have no money, I have no airline ticket, I have nothing but myself and clothes on my back. But I stayed on the bus. I told my friend about it, she gave me her interpretation, the Lord has given her that gift, then I can kinda think on it from there into what God is saying through these dreams. So this is what we think this one means. God has called me to go out and do His work, and He has called me into the ministry. The short bus means few answer the call to missions and God's call on their lives. The small shirt means I don't feel like I fit in, and I don't, that's why my life verse is Romans 12:1-2. I have a few thoughts about Koral and Phil being on the "sideline" cheering. Of course I have a great deal of respect for them, I love them. But I also see it as, God is raising me up to take the "baton of missions" so to speak, and continue the race. It's almost like a Paul and Timothy kind of thing. Phil raised us up through Student Worship in having a heart for missions, worship, being authentic...so much!! Phil poured so much into my life, what an honor to have served with him and under him on mission trips. He went on to be with the Lord this past February 2012. He fought the good fight with cancer, and even in the face of death, he taught us all how to die. I miss him so much.
The journey continues...