Maps and Missions #4

Why Use Maps to Grow you Missionary Heart?-Reason #4

Maps make a great conversation starter for turning a conversation towards the Great Commission.

As a mission mobalizer, supporter, missionary-in-training, your and my responsibility is to help bring relevance to God at work around the world. We are part of the network of bringing the news home in such a way that compels people to make a choice to be involved.

Unfortunately, beyond the war headlines, most people don’t keep up with international news and geography. I think mostly, because it doesn’t seem to be relevant. At least that’s my temptation, and I have to work against it.

Maps became a spring-board resource that never wears out for sharing prayer requests and action points with those we come in contact with. They allow us to share this information in a way that is both memorable and practical, particularly because it is hands-on.

In order for maps to work as a conversation starter, howerever, they have to be accessible in the conversation centers of your home, such as a living room, dining room, and bedroom. They also need to be big enough to read and examine. If you have to use a magnifying glass to read, it probably will only rarely be looked at. I’ve also found that up-to-date world globes and attractive coffee table atlases are great resources too, allowing flexibility to pass around and carry with you.

There are some fabulous, yet inexpensive maps available online, but I’ll talk more about that in another post. You can also get quality world maps from your local bookstore, rolled carefully in a tube and ready for mounting.

Map It:
Try using a map as a conversation starter about world missions with a friend or family member this evening. Check out a local national headline and share some of what you find out with your family this evening. Point out where that news is happening on your world map. The more you do this, the more natural it will become. You will be blessed to keep at it as you see the new understanding and global interest that spreads from using this simple resource. I'd love to hear your feedback on maps, so let me know what you think.