I never thought a marketer & graphic designer would have something to add to a team of medical professionals, teachers and social workers on the missions field. Their skills were very hands-on and people-focused. Until nobody showed up at our first event…
I remember my very first mission experience back in 2010. I signed up because I had heard many positive things about this particular beach mission trip, but didn’t know any other people going.
When I arrived and started meeting other people, it became clear early on, that they were primarily either: nurses, teachers, or social workers. I remember feeling out of place. My degree was in Graphic Design and Marketing! I was passionate about all things creative – colour, design, layout – and how these could be used for effective communication. But… being surrounded by people who I concluded were more “helpful” than me, I quickly felt disqualified for missions, and not godly enough.
Using my marketing skills for outreach
As the mission trip went on over the next few days, certain needs were arising within the team. We were doing some events in the surrounding caravan parks and the local beach. It became clear that we needed to communicate and advertise these community events, so that families, kids, and youth knew they were invited.
It soon became apparent to me that there was a great need for someone within our team who had skills in graphic design and marketing. I put my hand up to create some posters and flyers that could be handed out to people as we were walking around the community.
I realised that it wasn’t just the teachers, nurses and social workers who were effective in missions – but also people with other skill sets and qualifications. I discovered through this particular experience that all skills and professions can be used by Him. How much more effectively can we reach others when everyone is working together with their unique gifts?
One body; many parts
1 Corinthians 12 (MSG) used the analogy of a human body to explain that the body of Christ is also made up of many different parts:
14-18 ‘I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it’.
I am grateful that I had this mission trip experience, as I believe God used it to teach me that He doesn’t hate what I love! In fact the opposite! He has given me a unique set of skills that ARE valuable and CAN be used to change lives, communities and nations.
Here are some unexpected (but invaluable) roles and skills that can strengthen any missions team:
- Cooking
- Hospitality
- Accounting
- Event management
- Driving and transport coordination
- Administration
- Photography / video
Find your part in the story
My word of encouragement to you is that if you are feeling like your skills and passions are not godly enough to be used by Him, think again. They were placed in you for a unique purpose. There’s a place for you in God’s big story that no one else can fulfill as you can!
Want to discover how you can play your unique part in the story? Book a free phone consultation with our team.
Jessica Begg
Jess did her DTS with us in 2019, and now runs her own small business in Sydney. Jess has a background in visual design and marketing and is passionate about using her creative gifts to share life and beauty with the world 🌎
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