e-mail 11/18/6

A word that we hear often these days is the word "mission" or "missions" In the military we hear of the troops having a mission, meaning (I think) a specific assignment that they are to undertake.

In the church, we also talk about "missions" and I have to admit that when I am most happy and active at church is when it is a Season of Missions. I am of the old school of thought that if a church is not mission-minded then it is a mission-field. It is very possible for us to have ministry in a church or organization and never mention the name of Christ. We wish this did not happen but I am afraid that often it does. When a church is involved in "missions", it is not considered "missions" unless a testimony is given. This is one of those little tidbits that somehow got lost when Woman's Missionary Union ceased to be active in many Baptist churches.

Please don't misunderstand me, I am not opposed to ministries, there are many great ones. Bob's volunteer work at the hospital is both ministry and missions. Hospital rules prevent him from talking about Jesus to anyone that is not willing to talk to him and yet he can go in and be encouraging. That is ministry. When he gets to pray, share a testimony or talk about Jesus, then it is missions. Giving to those in need is necessary but ministries become missions when we share Jesus. Sharing Jesus can be verbally, with a Bible, a tract, or even a sticker as long as He is the focus of what we are doing and aren't afraid to say so. Everything we do or say should point someone in the direction of our Savior. We will one-day give account of every opportunity we had to share Him and it is up to us to take advantage of all opportunities. That is MISSIONS!

A mission usually has steps in how it is to be carried out whether we are talking about military or church.

Missions at church is a command of Jesus Christ Himself. He said (Matthew 28:18-20)"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." We have heard and quoted this verse so much that we pay little attention to the words themselves anymore, much like John 3:16. Yet these 2 verses carry the Gospel message.

All authority has been given to Jesus; therefore this makes Him our Commander-in-chief. He has the right to make the rules and give the orders.Jesus gave a command that we were to "Go". That is the first step in the command. We have to be willing to go. Jesus wanted the Gospel to be spread into the whole world that everyone might have an opportunity to be saved. He knew that we could not each one go but He knew that we could go somewhere and tell somebody. The correct translation of this part of the verse says "As you go".

Another method of going is also in our giving and praying so that others can go with God's protection and guidance.

The second step in our mission, as a Christian is to make disciples by preaching the Gospel. Without the message of the Gospel presented it is not a mission, it becomes something else, sometimes a good ministry or other good things but it is not missions without the Gospel presented.

The third step in our mission is to teach others to observe all the things that Jesus has commanded us. This is the one that it seems we fail our Lord in big time. Each of us wants to do things our own way and not always His way and yet His way is so much better. We have heard it said that Jesus would not want us to be unhappy so we have to change the rules to make them suit our wants. It won't bring real happiness to change God's rules. We are to first obey and then to teach others the way of Jesus. The mature Christians, men and women, of the church are to teach those less mature and be the kind of examples to the world that everyone would want to follow Christ.

Then we have the promise. Jesus said that He would be with us always, even to the end of the age. He will be with us through eternity. Thank the Lord for that promise. We either believe Him or we don't. He is Lord. He is in charge and He makes the rules for the mission that we have been assigned.

In just a few days in most Southern Baptist Churches, there will be an emphasis placed on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. I urge you to prayerfully consider how you can help to keep missions alive with Southern Baptist around the world. Our missionaries are depending on us.As always our goal is to

Share God's Love,

Peggy

James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."