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“Without Christ, there is no mission, without the
mission there is no church.”
Sounds
good doesn’t it. This is a seemingly simple and
straightforward, definition of the church. But it is
not. What is the mission? What is the church? What is
the mission of the church? How do or do we ever
accomplish it?
I
believe that God through his Son used many different
approaches in dealing and communicating the Gospel to
the people he came in contact with. We, too, are called
to create an atmosphere of activity all under the
umbrella of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, we as church become singular focused. Some
churches see their mission is to provide “wonderful”
worship, or dynamic Bible Studies and are content
because they have fulfilled their mission. While
important, it falls a little bit short when it comes to
mission.
The
moment someone sets foot on the property of Mount
Zion--Mission begins. It does not matter what the
activity is. Whether it is a Homeowners meeting, or a
worship service; whether it is a Bible Study or
quilting, whether it is a Cub Scout troop or an A.A.
meeting. All of these activities are fulfilling the
mission that Christ is calling us to do.
As I
write this article, there is a Rummage and Book Sale
being set up in the Fellowship Hall. So I will use them
as an example. You come and you work and you share of
your time your talent and your lives with the people who
are working with you. You share what is happening and
how you are feeling with others. Knowing that under
this umbrella of mission the one who listens is there to
give you a sense of encouragement. (At the very least
it gives you a chance to VENT so you don’t take it out
on someone else.)
Pastor
Dan, Bob and Rhonda Warner and I have just returned from
the Grand Canyon Synod Assembly. It was great to share
what various churches in the Synod were doing to live
out the mission. We heard and celebrated food pantries,
mission meals to homeless, day care centers and even
partnership with a children’s hospital. However, I was
talking to a few people who were looking for a sense of
renewed Spirit within their church. It occurred to me
that their focus was perhaps too narrow of what
“mission” is all about.
Whenever
God’s people gather it is “mission”. It is people who
are created by God who are coming to a place where lives
are changed. It does not make a difference what brings
God’s people together.
As you
read this July newsletter, I pray that you read it not
as a list of activities that are going on at the church,
but instead see it as a whole bunch of opportunities for
God to work miracles in the lives that are brought to
God’s house.
Doing Mission together,
Pastor Craig
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