A few weeks ago, I had the greatest opportunity to go on my first missions trip to Thailand. I will never be the same after what the Lord has allowed me to experience and learn from that place!

While there, my team and I got to be a part of a church dedication. We were on the tallest mountain in Thailand, in a village the furthest away from civilization called the Huey Wai Village. While here, we got to witness the dedication of a church that was built by the generous funds raised by people affiliated with the group we went with, Far Flung Tin Can.

The village was packed with people in their traditional outfits. They were with friends, family, and even people from other villages that traveled in to celebrate this day.

I got to witness people from a different culture, desperate for just a glimpse of the Gospel.

This taught me a lot and I would love to share those lessons with you!

1. We overcomplicate the Gospel so much.

At this church dedication, it was so simple.

There were no fog machines, “welcome home” signs, or loud music.

It was just the people coming together with a genuine love and desire for the Lord.

It was so pure, so rich, and so evident in this room. I have never experienced something so sweet.

This is the blueprint. If we think about it, this was the example the first church set for us. It was people coming together desperate for the Gospel, worshipping and fellowshipping as one body of Christ despite language barriers or cultures.

Further than that, they were only concerned about Jesus.

Often times, we get caught up in all the theatrics of what we think makes church, church. And lose sight of what our relationship with the Father is designed to look like.

Jesus just wants your heart, friend.

In Matthew 6:33-34 it says, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

All we have to do is keep our eyes on things above, seek first HIS kingdom, and HIS righteousness and everything else will fall into place!

The only thing that matters in this life, and I mean the ONLY thing that truly matters, is your relationship with Christ.

We do not have to overcomplicate our relationships, friendships, and community.

We do not have to overcomplicate our calling, jobs, and passions.

We do not have to overcomplicate our prayers, sermons, or platforms.

Jesus simply wants your heart – your heart humbly, desperately seeking HIM first.

2. The great commission is to all of us, not just missionaries.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

As followers of Christ, we each have the command on our life to, “GO!”

Now, my “GO” might look different from yours. We all have different callings on our life, different passions, and careers to pursue. The Lord has given us our own personal vocation to step into, so that we can live out the great commission within that.

That starts with a heart posture to “GO” and a mindset to seek spreading the Gospel no matter where you are. To start each day praying for moments to witness to others and to be to be constantly searching for opportunities to share the Good News.

By doing this you can…

GO on your campus.

GO at your local coffee shop.

GO within your family.

It does not always look like going into the ends of the earth, but for some of us it will. Sometimes it simply looks like having a renewed mindset to abide by the commandment to “GO” each and every day.

It can also look like giving regularly to your church and devoting your prayers to the unreached (we will touch more on that in a sec!)

The church we got to dedicate was funded by people who gave to their church and supported Far Flung Tin Can.

These people generously gave and did so in faith that their money would go to support a project bigger than themselves. A project for the first ever church built in this village. A village these people have never even been to. They gave in faith that that the Lord would take their funds and turn them into something to greatly impact the kingdom and that would change lives forever – and He did.

We can “GO” with our mindset, heart posture, funds, and prayers.

Give God your “GO” and see what He will do with it!

3. Your prayers can change the World.

I read a quote a few years ago and it said, “If God answered all of your prayers, would it change the world or would it change your world?”

This completely wrecked me and changed the way I prayed for a season. I wish I could say that it changed the way I prayed forever, but to be totally transparent with you, over the years I have resorted back to my selfish prayers.

My prayers look pretty much the same. Praying for the day, the people in my life, and whatever there is to be concerned about.

I want peace, patience, and joy. I want to do well in my classes, know what I am going to do after graduation, and have time to work out. I want to rest, spend time with my family, and get married.

I want, I want, and I want some more…

What would happen if what I wanted went further than what is in reach of me, and my prayers stretched to the ends of the earth?

Do not get me wrong, it is more than ok to pray for personal things. The Lord cares for the desires of our hearts – from the smallest to the biggest of things!

But along with praying for these things…

Let us not neglect the power of prayer.

Let us not put God in a box.

Let us not forget that our prayers truly could change the world.

This was evident in Thailand as I saw prayers being answered by projects fulfilled, ministries growing, and hearts touched by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 11:1 we find the definition of faith which is, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

We have to have faith that prayer is not just words, rather is direct communication to the Father. Our faith is things HOPED for that we cannot see, that has not happened yet, and that we are trusting will come into fruition.

James 2:17 says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Our faith is nothing without works, it is DEAD! How we coincide faith and works is actively devoting ourselves to prayers bigger than ourselves each and every day, HOPING that they will ultimately change the world.

We can begin to pray for unreached people groups, poverty, politics, lost religions, and the oppressed. We can pray for people we do not even know to come to the Lord. Pray for the safety of those on mission overseas. Pray that the Lord blesses our funds to do the unthinkable.

We can “GO!” with our prayers if we just give it all to the Lord!

It really is simple; at the end of the day, He just desires our heart.

Our heart desperate for the Him.

Our heart committed to the great commission.

Our heart devoted to prayers that will change the World.

Thank you, friend, for reading these lessons taken from Thailand!

Hey hey LO fam! My name is Raylee Evans and it is a joy to be here with you! I am a Senior Public Relations major at Lee University, which happens to be right in my hometown, Cleveland, TN! I am the second oldest of six in my family, which makes life so fun – never a dull moment! You can either find me on the pickleball courts, drinking coffee, or planning a last-minute trip. I currently work at Ever After Bridal as a bridal consultant, give campus tours at Lee to upcoming students, and I also have a little photography business on the side as well. I am a multi-passionate gal with a lotta dreams, 27 to be exact! My biggest prayer is that whatever dream I am pursing, that I am spreading His love, His joy, and His truth with everyone I come into contact with. Again, it is a joy to be here so thanks for being apart of one of those 27 dreams!