What is a missionary anyway?

So as I'm packing up my bags and making a final shopping list for Kenya, I can't help but wonder what is a "missionary" really anyway? So often that term is used in association with someone going over seas, but I do not feel more like a missionary just because I'm about to board an airplane. I believe I was a missionary in East Cobb before I will be a missionary in Kenya. And sure, people could easily ride off my being a missionary in East Cobb with being a church staff member, but I believe I was a missionary before I had that title officially placed on me by the church. I was a missionary at UGA, before that Samford, before that Walton, before that middle school, etc. How can I make such a bold claim? Simply because I was living my live for Jesus and sharing Him with others. Not because I was perfect. No title or plane ticketed needed - all that is needed is a life submitted to loving & serving Christ first and others over yourself.

Isn't a missionary simply a person on a mission? Can't we all be missionaries? In fact, I believe that every believer is called to be a missionary by Jesus Christ himself. I believe the halls of a high school, a work office, our homes, the grocery store, etc. are just as legit mission fields as the orphanage in Kenya God is calling me to. I don't think Jesus is sitting up in heaven with a ranking system saying, "Wow, Kenya, you get 2 extra points for that one" Yet I feel like some people look at me this way, like I'm up on some pedestal and I can tell you that I 100% do not deserve to be on any pedestal. I don't think there is a geographical ranking system to mission fields - I think the key is just going where Christ calls you too when He calls you too it. Wherever we are, whoever we are with at the moment, that is a mission field. Chillin at a movie theater? Shopping at Target? Eating at Willys? Yep, all mission fields.

In case your still skeptical of my words (which you should be because who am I than just a sinful man?) I encourage you to take a look at a certain part of Scripture where I'm getting my ideas anyway. After Jesus rose from the dead (YAY!!!) and before He rose up to heaven again, He said this to His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." -Acts 1:8 Notice Jesus starts with Jerusalem, the town the disciples were currently in! Jesus is telling them to start where they are - live empowered by the Holy Spirit (which dwells in every true believer) - and start spreading the good news about me to others as He leads them.

"You don't have to cross the sea to be a missionary, you just have to see the cross." Praying we all will live empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the fame of Jesus wherever He calls us to...