Missions

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matthew 11:37 & 38 NAS)

"All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NAS)

With these words Jesus initiated the disciples to spread the gospel throughout the world. That call continues today, in every believer in some form or another.

"Missions" is the response of the church to the non-believing world. It is a gift in that God uses His people to spread the gospel to a needy world, one that is lost without Him. The body of Christ is more diverse than ever before, thus leaving much opportunity for creative evangelism, discipleship, and the furthering of the gospel of Christ. "Missions" is not just witnessing but includes all kinds of gifts that are in the church.

1. It is the collective response of the church to meet the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of their community and the world.
   1. First and utmost by prayer.
   2. By financial support.
   3. By whatever support ministries God ordains in the church.
   4. God calls us individually to be active in His plans.
      1. It is the individual's responsibility to determine what God wants to do in their life.
         • To pray.
         • To give (money, energy, time, etc.)
         • Go out "into the field".

We are all vital to the body of Christ. Each of us have been placed strategically in order that God can receive the most glory. "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ." (I Corinthians 12:12)

The vision for our church, specifically, is to support foreign and local missionaries with both prayer and financial means where possible. We will be hearing from them on a regular basis through letters and visits. It will be the responsibility of individuals within our church to commit themselves in this way (prayer, giving, writing letters, etc.).

Another part of our vision is to have ministries emerging from our church. These ministries will differ greatly according to what field they are in. As the church grows so will opportunity for ministries functioning already and more to come, as the Lord directs.