Mission Minded Leaders

The greatest mission that happened to mankind was when Jesus came to save this world.  In Philippians 4:15-16 (NLT), the apostle Paul expresses his thankfulness and gratitude to the Philippian church, “As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.” Paul had just moved to Athens and Corinth and found himself in paucity of shelter and food.

As a child, I remember my mother would delay eating until all of her children had enough to eat first. Paul had already set-up in his mind that he’d forbear food even to death if he had to, for the cause of Christ. Thanks be to God, the Philippians came and supported him right on time. We can’t all leave our places of Macedonia’s and travel to the utter most parts of this world. However, we can play an integral role in fostering and promoting mission support in your churches today.

Printed below is a short excerpt from one sub-chapter of the book – it is titled ‘2001 Key Events: Two Major Gifts Open A Mission Door’.

“No Mission, No Church. The church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning.  Where there is no mission, there is no Church; and where there is neither Church nor mission, there is no faith (Emil Brunner 1889-1966).”

Missions are not something you do or think about just on your church Mission Sunday calendar. If your church has a designated organization that needs your support, asks God to help you make a conscientious effort to support those missionaries who are willing to make a sacrifice, like the apostle Paul and participate in missions through your church. Missional minded leaders are able to set benchmarks for all those who are willing to make the sacrifices.  Jesus assures us in Matthew 28:20 that we will never be alone, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Serving the Lord with Gladness,

Deacon Terri McFarlane