When people used to ask me about missions, I would always think back to my seasons spent overseas serving others, in hopes to shine the light of Christ bright enough so that the people I served would catch a glimpse of Jesus. As I sit and think about those times and experiences, I see that my motives for missions were pure and my heart was good, however my attempts at reaching the nations for Christ lacked much of what true mission is, when we look at God’s biblical definition. One verse from God’s word that, I feel, truly sums up what it means to live a life on mission, is known as the Abrahamic Covenant, found in Genesis 12
“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” – Genesis 12: 1-2.
This is not just a statement made by God to Abraham, but a promise that God intends to be fulfilled in each of us, until the return of Christ. This verse shows us how God has set forth His purpose for His people, from the time He made this covenant with Abraham, throughout history, and until the end of the world. We, the church, have been blessed by Almighty God to be a blessing to others and to make His name known among all the earth. Our faith is not meant to be just for ourselves. True Faith lived out on mission, is poured out to BLESS others – your family, community, nation, and world. So what does that look like for us in today’s times, as the church on mission? Your story has a purpose. When you place your story into the hands of God, He will take you to people and places you never imagined you would go, and will stir up a boldness to declare HIS praise to the nations, and make His name known among all the earth.
I have learned that missions is not just defined as the times, and seasons, that I spent serving overseas. Missions can, and should, be lived out daily in the hearts of the World Christian. Not everyone is called to GO, but we are all called to play a part in declaring His name to the Nations. Here are several ways you can be a part of fulfilling God’s promise and purpose of Mission:
- Mobilize – John Piper once said, “Mobilizers are worth 100 goers.” Maybe you don’t feel called to be the goer, maybe God has blessed you will the ability to excite and empower others for reaching others.
- Pray – Isaiah 62:6 says, “I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest…” Prayer is the most important weapon when trying to reach the nations for Christ. There is nothing that we can do apart from the will of God.
- Send – Chose a mission project to fund, send a care package, maybe even try to live minimally so that you can give more to those on the ground reaching the nations.
- Welcome – The majority of the worlds’ leaders are educated in the United States, reach them for Christ and nation can truly be reach for Christ. Get involved with a college’s international students for the sake of the Gospel.
- Go – Less than 1% of people in mist church bodies will ever take this step of faith and be the boots on the ground reaching the nations for Christ. A great way to do this would be to look at business as missions – God have given you gifts and talents, He may be calling you to use them other than at home.
- Learn – A class that I have taken twice now is called “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.” This class has truly impacted my understanding of God’s heart for the Nations, and realizing that He has a role for each of us to play in that movement. Perspectives is a 15 week course designed around four vantage points or “perspectives” – Biblical, Historical, Cultural and Strategic. Each one highlights different aspects of God’s global purpose.
-Written by: Brandon Breedlove
Brandon Breedlove is the leader of the Bridge on Mission team, here at Bridge Church. Brandon has a heart to mobilize others to discover their part to play in the Global mission of God, and is hoping to establish a Perspectives course for the Northshore area sometime in the future – a class which dramatically impacted him, as well as his wife and four daughters, when they all completed the course together in 2016. Brandon has led several mission trips in the past, and is working with the mission team, currently, to schedule our 2017 mission calendar. If you are interested in serving with the Bridge on Mission team, or have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact Brandon at 985.789.3293.
