Missions Possible

I am passionate about making a difference in the world around me. By God’s grace, I made a difference in my high school, college, post-college career, and now as a pastor. One of the saddest things I have seen is a local church that has no impact in their surrounding community. Another mistake is a church so focused on local engagement that forget that it has a responsibility to the world. The mission that Jesus has given us should compel us to reach both right here and over there.

The bible says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me (Jesus) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 These are the words of Jesus desiring us to carry on his mission into the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us in part to fulfill the work that God has for us to do. Jesus is talking to guys who are in Jerusalem so the connotation is to reach the local area, Judea that is a little farther away, and Samaria, which is a far off. All three are necessary.

One thing I understood early on in our journey to start Vertical Church was the importance of the way we started, because it influenced the way we would continue as a body. So, from the beginning, we were sure to do both local and global outreach. Actually the very first thing we did publically as a church was to serve one of the college campuses in our community. We also were sure to donate financially to a student going on a mission’s trip. Both community and international engagement were right there at the beginning.

Last year, we performed over 2,000 hours of community service. We provided over 2,200 meals to the hungry. We also collected clothes for the naked, and books for a local school, and so much more. We also helped fund church plants around the North America, and one specific team going to Memphis, TN. We gave to help 7 churches get started in Tanzania, most of which were among the Masai people.

This year, we have continued that process. We recently sponsored a community Easter Egg event where we helped feed over 375 people, prayed for community members, provided eggs and games, and shared Christ through entertainment for hundreds of children in the statistically worst community in our city. To add to that, we are sending at least 6 people to Asia on teaching missions this summer. My wife will be joining them to both capture the experience and to encourage them.

Churches can’t ignore the needs around them. Churches can’t ignore the world abroad either. We must impact our immediate community and we must fulfill the mission given to us by Jesus to tell the world about His amazing grace. A church that is only internally focused is not only functioning selfishly; it is failing the mission, no matter its size or status. The mission of Jesus is not only possible, it requires us to impact our immediate surrounding and the world at large.