I told the children, “People think of missionaries as unusual people who go to strange lands and do amazing things. But the facts are far different. Missionaries are normal people who go anywhere–perhaps to your own town–and they do simple things.”

“Basically, what they do,” I said, “are four things: 1) they talk to people; 2) they build relationships with people; 3) they ask questions; and 4) they look for ways to help people.”

From 600 to 800 children and their adult church workers gathered Saturday for the annual Mission Jamboree (M-Jam) conducted by the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s Women’s Ministry Division of which Janie Wise is the leader. We met at Louisiana College in Pineville. Jim Chester–Baptist preacher, funny-funny man, and magician/illusionist–formed the parenthesis for the day’s conferences by doing a program at the beginning and the end of the day. He was as effective as I’ve ever seen anyone with hundreds of children. Every pastor who watches Jim do what he does will run out and buy himself a magic kit. He’s that good. And he frequently ties in his tricks with spiritual lessons.

In between Jim’s stuff, several of us “missionaries” were leading four conferences, back to back, with the group divided into segments that would fit into the smaller auditoriums.

After telling what missionaries do, I gave the children a sterling example of the 21 volunteers from the First Baptist Church of Buford, Georgia, who worked in New Orleans this week.

The group arrived last Sunday and made camp in the Hopeview Baptist Mission building–which was almost totally ruined by Katrina’s floodwaters and the spill from Murphy Oil Company, but which has been restored–with their sleeping bags and air mattresses. Monday, one of their group–Susan–came to our associational offices with our Carol Saling to check in. Two of their people were working on the plumbing and electrical at Hopeview and most were at the First Baptist Church of Chalmette where our people are constructing a new sanctuary. Susan and another person or two were cooking for the group and taking care of the errands.

Susan told how they had gone to dry cleaning establishments around that section of Georgia and collected their unclaimed clothing, stuff that was dropped off there and cleaned and bagged, but never picked up and paid for, leaving the store stuck with it. The Buford group filled a truck with high quality, cleaned, bagged clothing to bring to New Orleans.

Tuesday afternoon, I spoke with Mike Rhodes, a member of their group. He repeated much of what Susan had said, then told how their team had printed fliers announcing the clothing giveaway and had fanned out into the community to meet people, pass out the fliers, and talk to anyone they could.

That’s what missionaries do, after all.

In front of the grocery, they led two people to faith in Christ, Mike said. An older couple asked their help in bringing their furniture into the house. The delivery truck had brought out the furniture they had just purchased, but the workers dropped it on the front lawn and drove away. That afternoon, the Buford group spent an hour bringing the furniture inside, helping the homeowners put it together and situate it, and getting to know them.

Making friends. Like missionaries do.

They led the couple to faith in Christ.

Friday, driving north toward Pineville, I called Mike Rhodes for an update. They had held the clothing giveaway at Hopeview Church on Thursday and 150 people showed up. The Buford folks got contact information on each person who came, they talked with them, and in the course of helping them to find the clothing they could use, they led 10 people to faith in Jesus Christ.

(I said “five” earlier, and that’s what I told the children Saturday, but Carol Saling corrected me on this blog. I’m proud to report the higher number.)

“At this very moment,” I told the children, “the Buford church team is driving toward home. How good do you think they feel?”

I pointed out that these wonderful friends did not solve all of New Orleans’ problems. But they made a world of difference for a number of people in St. Bernard Parish by encouraging them, helping to rebuild their church, giving clothing to their families, and introducing perhaps 15 or more to Christ.

That’s the best kind of help there is. And it’s what missionaries give their lives to be able to do.