Mission

            When we use the term Mission in the church, what do we mean? I have had some conversations with our recently re-instated Mission and Stewardship Committee as well as the Elders on Session. I have my ideas based largely on my experience as a missionary with Latin America Mission back in the mid-eighties. I also studied missions in Seminary. I worked with long term missionaries in Honduras as well as Mexico. In the 2^nd Church I served I took youth to Mexico for short term mission trips. My understanding of missions is based largely on “the Great Commission” given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20: ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The early church leaders were told to go and make disciples of all nations or all peoples. We see this missionary endeavor beginning in the book of Acts. In our Book of Order, the first great end of the Church is “the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind”.  

So, what does that mean for us? How is this seen as a priority in what we do as a church? You might think that some money we give to the denomination goes to support missionaries, and you would have been correct until last year when the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. abolished the Presbyterian World Mission Board (which had been in place since 1837). Other mission agencies have sought to step in and provide a witness to the gospel around the world. We provide some support to Shawn and his wife Sylvia who work with refugees in Europe. We also provide some support to the Gospel Mission in Sioux City where the Gospel is preached and people are given spiritual and physical help. I think we can do more as a church.

As families, Scripture points to a tithe to be given back to God. That is 10% of what we bring in. That is the goal. Remember what Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth, “God loves a cheerful giver”. We are not to give out of some legalistic sense of guilt, but from a generous heart. Just as we as families need to think about tithing, I think it would be an admirable goal if as a church we tithe to missions. In other words, we set a goal of spending 10% of our budget on mission giving. 

I do not want us to think that because we are doing more to support the proclamation of the gospel overseas, we are not to share the gospel here at home. This month we celebrate Pentecost. In Acts, Jesus told his disciples what would happen on Pentecost. In Acts 1:8, Jesus says: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Just as the disciples were told to be Jesus’ witnesses where they were (Jerusalem) and to go out from there. We are to start with Battle Creek and Ida County and Iowa and to the ends of the earth. It is not an either local mission or foreign missions, it is both. Chuck Swindoll said the following: “Whatever we do, we must not treat the Great Commission like it's the Great Suggestion.” Please pray with me that our church would become excited about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ here in Battle Creek and to the ends of the earth.

                                                            Peace,

                                                            Pastor Jim