Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!' Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if they were to keep silent the stones would cry out." [Luke 19:37-40]
The purpose of mission work is to spread the Word of God. To accomplish this objective God’s people often work in foreign and domestic lands to preach the Gospel. Missionaries often find their work to be life-changing. By working with missionaries, churches can share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with those who live in places where Christianity is sometimes unknown. Whether in the United States or overseas, there are a variety of reasons why mission work is especially important.
It's God’s will for us to spread the Gospel to all the world. There are many vessels God could have used to communicate His message, including even stones, but He decided to use current believers to help spread the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Acting alone can sometimes present certain limitations to get the word out there. However, through collaboration with the church, more opportunities present themselves to make the efforts more successful.
A dedicated mission program provides God’s people with an opportunity not only to spread the Gospel more effectively but also provides His people with the opportunity to strengthen relationships within the congregation by obeying His commands.
God chose to spread the Good News of salvation in Christ alone by discussing and preaching about God. Jesus spent much of his time on Earth discussing and preaching God’s Word. By involving ourselves with mission work, the church can build a closer relationship with God by following the example of Jesus. If it is God’s will, the mission work of the church will bear fruit for years to come.
It is written that, as God’s people, we are to love God and also to love our neighbors as ourselves. We demonstrate our love for ourselves by eating, drinking, sleeping, and praying. Additionally, we are called to extend this servitude to our neighbors. We are asked to love them as we love ourselves. As a church, it's possible to address the basic needs of others through mission work locally and globally. We can care for our brothers and sisters through love and spiritual guidance.
After His resurrection and before His ascension into heaven, Jesus spoke of the importance of mission work: “The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them,
"All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." [Matthew 28:16-20]
The apostle Paul found that the prayers of fellow believers in Jesus Christ were a tremendous source of encouragement for him. The support of prayer is evident throughout Scripture. Paul specifically asked the Philippian church for their prayers. "Pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored just as it was with you." [2 Thessalonians 3:1].
Judging by the effectiveness of his ministry, we can observe that those prayers of the Philippian church worked to Paul's benefit. Missionaries depend on encouragement and financial support to help their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs to spread the Gospel.
Effective August 1, 2024