Missions

What is Christian Missions?

Christian missions is following Christ’s call: sharing the Gospel with the lost world through God’s wisdom and strength. Missions is at the very heart of who God is. We recognize that God is about the business of making true worshippers of Himself from every area of the world, and we have the privilege of being a part of His mission.

After Christ’s death and resurrection, He commanded the disciples to share the Gospel, the message of His redemption. “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” (Matthew 28:19-20).

This Great Commission applies to Christians today. Rather than a burden, obeying His call brings joy and reward in heaven. We should fulfill our mission not out of duty but love: “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. . . . Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

God could convert everyone using a blinding light and the voice of Christ as He did with the apostle Paul. Instead, He gives Christians the mission of reconciliation (Acts 1:8-9). He works through us, calling sinners to turn to Christ in repentance and faith.

Our mission is proclaiming Christ as the only way to abundant, eternal life. Whom do we tell? Jesus made it clear that Christians are to reach out to “all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Instead of countries, he was referring to people groups, those ethnic cultures without a Gospel witness.

Christian missions, however, is not limited to overseas ministry. While believers should faithfully support those who go to the unreached, all Christians have the mission to share Christ on the home field with family, friends, coworkers, and the community.

The Christian mission of sharing Christ does not end with a sinner’s salvation. The commission was to make disciples – not immature believers. Thus, Christian missions involves not only evangelism but also discipleship.

Sharing the Gospel humbly, boldly, and passionately is our Christian mission. But we cannot do it alone. While our mission is sharing Christ, the power and results come from the Lord. He gives us the wisdom, strength, and desire to witness! Through our witness, He works repentance and faith in the sinner’s heart (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Although it is God’s work, Christians are responsible to understand the Gospel and have a strong relationship with Christ. Such a relationship guards them from hypocrisy. “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:15-16). Jesus assured that suffering would accompany missions, but God uses it for good.

In sum, Christian missions is obeying Christ, sharing Christ, and relying on Christ. Specifically, God sends missionaries through the support of the church to the unreached. All Christians, however, have the mission of reconciliation. The Lord works through them to rescue the lost. What greater mission can one answer?

(from GotQuestions.org)

Our mission team raises awareness and support for our many missionaries and their families who are spreading God’s Word and serving His Kingdom in the USA and foreign countries.

Meet Our Missionaries

Gary and Terry Camlin

Portugal

Gary and Terry have been faithfully serving in Portugal since 1997.  The two are currently involved in work at the Portuguese Bible Institute where Gary is the Assistant Director at PBI and he also teaches courses in practical theology and New Testament Exegesis.  The Camlins are also consistently involved in church planting and discipleship efforts in the Lisbon area.

Tim and Kathy Sheetz

Handi-Vangelism (Pennsylvania, USA)

Tim and Kathy Sheetz have been serving with Handi-Vangelism since 1973, when Tim founded the ministry.  Handi-Vangelism strives to challenge and train churches and individuals to care for people with disabilities through various camps, lectures, and discipleship.  Handi-Vangelism has since grown to include several other compassion ministries.

Neil and Wannee Thompson

Colorado, USA

Contact

Rick Thompson