Mission Critical
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the 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” (Mt. 28:19NASB).

What is MISSIONS? Missions is the business with which a group of people is charged by a religious organization to spread its faith or provide educational, medical, and other assistance locally or internationally.

• Missions involves telling others about God, wanting to make disciples of Jesus, to help the hungry and the oppressed, and to make better lives for the poor.
• Missions is what missionaries do.

What is a Missionary? A missionary is a person sent out by a church locally or internationally in order to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

Who is called to be a missionary? All Christians! We are witnesses to what God has done in our lives. Our holy lives and spoken words should bear witness to Him wherever we go. While not all are called to go overseas, all are called to be agents of change in the home, community, and the workplace. It is our mission from God. We are called to be WORLD Christians.

What is a World Christian?

• One who chooses to focus on the world around us as he or she serves the Lord. World Christians have a global vision of their relationship with God.
• They have overcome selfishness and looks to Scripture beyond personal blessings. They know the importance of obeying the Lord’s command to take the Good News to every part of the world. What is a Worldly Christian?
• One who accepts the basic message of salvation but remains preoccupied with self-fulfillment. He or she prays mostly for personal needs and has a very narrow perspective of what God has intended us to do. Instead of moving outward, the worldly Christian turns inward leading him or her away from understanding the greatness of God.

How do I become a World Christian? Learn to see the world as God sees it. Fight the spirit of selfishness that is all around us as promoted through the media and popular opinion. Pray for change from within that you may see things beyond your own little world.

What can I do today to be a part of missions?

• PRAY. It doesn't require a passport so you can do it from wherever you are. Pray for missionaries and the success of their work.
• COMMUNICATE. Keep in touch with missionaries through letters, postcards, e-mails, or phone calls. Your efforts will encourage and remind them that they are not alone in the work for the Lord.
• GIVE. Make it a point to regularly give financial gifts to your local church specifically for missions.
• READ. Know what’s going on in the world to know what and who among your missionaries to specifically pray for. Contact a mission group supported by our church
  - Larry and Inge Sthreshley - CAMEROON Helping doctors and staff with Presbyterian Church USA to improve hospital management and programs
  - Pentecostal Assembly of Tribes - THAILAND A network of hill tribe churches whose purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission through evangelism, church planting, translation, and leadership training among the hill tribe people
  - Habitat for Humanity - HAWAII A non-profit Christian organization seeking to eliminate poverty housing by building homes with volunteer labor for low-income families