|
Local Church and Missions |
 Without involvement in world missions the local church will wither and die because that is part of the Great Commission. But how can a small local church best be fruitful in this area? How can individuals contribute? These are questions pastors must face, and as they do they will find lots of opportunities and lots of problems.
Until 1990, for us, involvement had been prayer and financial support. But then as we prayed we were challenged by God that we had to be directly involved. The door opened, first into East Germany, but then into Romania. We took a team to be part of a church planting outreach into Rasnov in the Transylvanian mountains. At the time I was determined that this would not be a one off visit but, if we were going to plant a church, we must nurture and support the work as long as necessary. This was where the challenge really began. Part of me had great vision for this work while part of me didn’t know what to expect in a country I had never visited before. But we knew God had called us. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Fulfilling the great Commision |
Keith Green sang:
Jesus commands us to go,
But we go the other way.
So he carries the burden alone,
While his children are busy at play,
Feeling so called to stay |  |
The words are emotive and challenging. The command referred to is the Great Commission, and the understanding is that each believer is individually so commanded. Is this correct? Here is the Commission: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20This Great Commission wasn’t given to Peter, or to Andrew, or to James, or to John. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
