Coming to Atlanta, Georgia was definitely an eye opener. It taught me to be intentional and inclusive as a Christian. Before I came on this mission trip, I just thought that to be a Christian was to just show forth Christ to the world. But, I got so caught up in the “Holiness” that I was leaving behind a whole lot of people who needed to get closer to God. I forgot how to be human and that caused a barrier to be put up between myself and others who did not have a relationship with Christ as I do. I was so heavenly minded that I was no earthly good. And, it was not in the sense of, “I’m holier than the next person”. But, more so, putting people and things into two categories, “Godly” and “Not Godly”. Therefore, anything or anyone who was not “godly” I did not participate in or engage in. I literally set myself apart. After coming here and going out to serve the less fortunate, children, visiting the MLK center, Civil Rights and International Rights center and going to the World Market taught me that I as a Christan have to be like Christ, the Christ that walked the earth and met people where they were. What I took from this trip is that to be a follower of Christ, you have to be willing to go out and engage culture. Engaging culture as a Christian is the bridge to bringing someone that much closer to Christ.
-Shawn Janey
-Shawn Janey