I was recently in Nicaragua for a young adult mission trip.  It was an amazing time serving alongside a small local church in this little Central American town.  One night we were able to show the Jesus FILM in a very poor part of town.  Virtually every child in the whole barrio came out to see the film, and many other teens, parents, and other people stood a little ways away and watched, too.  At the end of the night, there were about 20 to 25 kids who came forward to pray and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Praise the Lord!  How great!

But as I stood there and watched all of this, I thought to myself, “What happens now?”  Our group was working in a different part of the city, and we were leaving in a couple of days.  No one from the church lived close to this neighborhood.  These kids had just accepted Jesus, but who was going to disciple them?  Who was going to help them?  Who was going to be an example for them and lead them?  Who was going to dwell among them and teach them how to live like Jesus?

Incarnational ministry.  Living out the faith in person.  In order to do this, there has to be proximity.  You cannot practice incarnational ministry if you are not, well, there.  You have to be there.  That is what Jesus did for us.  He couldn’t just tell us what to do from afar.  He came and lived with us.  He dwelled among us.

Incarnational ministry.  Who is going to do that for these kids in that neighborhood?  Who is going to do that in the neighborhoods where we live?  Are we doing this?

The Middle Road is all about walking the journey together.  You cannot journey with someone if you are not with them on the Road.  You have to be there with them.  You have to practice that incarnational ministry and walk on the Road with others.

Are you walking on the Middle Road with others?  Are you practicing incarnational ministry and being with those around you?  What are you doing?