Church on Mission

Our Fall Focus on Missions is just around the corner!  Of course, global outreach is a priority for us all year long.  But it’s good, now and then, to concentrate our attention on the Great Commission, hear from mission leaders, and renew our commitment to God’s global, gospel purpose for our church and each of our lives.

On Oct. 30, Pastor Josh Crans from Providence Church Coatesville will be here to preach on “Christ's compassion for the lost and his call for more laborers” (Matthew 9:35-38).  And on Nov. 6, Dr. Michael Oh, Global Executive Director of the Lausanne Move­ment, will be preaching, “From Every Land to Every Land:  The Lord’s Purpose and Provision in the Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13—and he’ll also lead an adult Sunday School session on “Global Mission Trends”).  For more info, see our Aug. 22 blog post.

My prayer and longing is that God will use these messengers to:  1) encourage us to see his world as he does—with compassion for the spiritually lost (John 3:16); and 2) challenge us to be wide open to his leading in our lives and the lives of loved ones—open to serve, give, pray, send, and go to the ends of the earth.

And yet, in today’s turbulent times, Christians are tempted to look at the big, bad, dangerous world, fall back in fear, hunker down, circle the wagons, and spend our energy trying to fend off all evil influences.  In other words, to slide into self-preservation mode.  But that’s not how Christ teaches us to see or relate to his world.

Let’s connect with the current sermon series on the church.  As the body of Christ, we must be following the will of our Head—otherwise bring disease upon the church.  As the bride of Christ, we wholeheartedly share our beloved Lord’s zeal to see the lost saved.  Goshen isn’t a club or a PAC or cruise ship—rather, we’re a search and rescue operation.  Remember, Jesus said:  “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18)—he will do it.  And it’s our privilege to have a role in his great, global work!