“. . . and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
ACTS 1:8
Sometimes, unintentionally, we get used to being in a comfort zone in our local churches. We faithfully attend church on the designated days to hear encouragement from God through the Sunday sermon, or we come on the assigned days to be trained in the Holy Scriptures. This is fine; however, our Lord Jesus Christ instructs us in Acts 1:8 to be witnesses. He urges us to carry out a mission ministry that is not based on our strength but on the work and presence of the Holy Spirit. He will enable us to go and proclaim the message of Christ in words and actions, giving witness to the faith we profess as we demonstrate the kindness, compassion, and love that we have received from God.
The church’s global mission is not only a call to go far away, but it is also a call to take a fresh look at those who live around us. In many cities and locations within our geographical area, God has brought the nations to our doorstep—immigrants, refugees, and people from distinct cultures live among us as they seek new opportunities for a better life together with their families. It would be wonderful if they could find refuge through our sharing the Word of God with them and our working jointly with social services ministries.
Analyzing the cultural context and worldview that surrounded the life of the apostle Paul, as well as his missionary ministry and the remarkable fruit of his labor, we notice that he lived in a Greco-Roman world where Greek philosophical ideas and Roman laws coexisted with the religious traditions of Judaism. His upbringing as a Pharisee gave him a deep knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, while his Roman citizenship gave him a broad understanding of the world and access to different social realities. These influences enabled him to connect effectively with diverse social groups—Jews, Greeks, Romans, and other peoples. This reality challenges us today to embrace a holistic missionary vision in our local churches that not only looks outward but also welcomes and ministers to immigrants, displaced people, and all cultures that live among us in our communities.
We notice that the combination of preaching the Word to those enduring hardships away from their countries of origin while addressing missions with compassion to those suffering from lack of material needs not only gives us the opportunity to provide spiritual bread from the teachings of our Creator, but also the material bread that will help satisfy the physical needs of those who are in need. This creates an extraordinary impact on the lives of friends as they see the goodness that God allows us to do when we show compassion for the most vulnerable. The challenge is clear—to look at our closest surroundings as rich soil in which to sow the seed of God’s Word. It is God who drives us, inspires us, and makes us feel restless through His Holy Spirit so that we desire and feel the need to do something tangible to help solve all sorts of problems, bringing peace through God’s message and hope in the midst of the existing turmoil.
Mobilizing the church starts with teaching, training, providing tools, and reminding the believers of God’s overall plan and vision. Jesus was the greatest mobilizer. He prayed, encouraged, trained, and sent others to carry out His mission through His example.
Today, the Holy Spirit drives us to go out of our comfort zone and see our neighbors, coworkers, peers, immigrants, and friends as people whom God loves and wants to reach. When we emulate the actions of Christ, He provides His grace and divine covering to guide us and instruct us on how to approach missions. Without thinking about leaving our own nations, we can carry out beautiful and extraordinary work in the places already mentioned. Let us not worry about when and how to structure the mission. By simply having the firm conviction to do the work, God will instruct us as we move forward in the process of reaching our closest communities within the framework of our own nations. There will always be a white field that we can prepare—first by sowing the seed and then equipping others to plant the work, supporting and sustaining them until they can fly on their own.
There will always be the question of how we will be able to do the work. Just ask the Father for direction, and He will see our burning desire to act. We will see how He opens the doors, and the workers will be added according to God’s plan and purpose.
How do we get started? First, we must identify leaders who have the skills to train and equip the people with the necessary tools and then form a missions and intercultural ministry within the church. The church can equip its members using workshops, seminars, and courses on evangelism, hospitality, and church planting, especially in multicultural contexts.
We understand that the displacement taking place in different parts of the world is often due to political conflicts and wars that force people to leave their country of origin. With empathy and compassion, we can place ourselves in the shoes of those who suffer because of this. It is essential to create safe spaces where unity and emotional support are encouraged for those who have endured such hardships. Just imagine the pain of single mothers, widows, senior adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities who need us to show the kindness that God gave us when He welcomed us into His arms by dying on the cross for our transgressions and sins.
Here are some practical ways the church can help:
- Offer language classes to help newcomers and, at the same time, build bridges of friendship and fellowship with them.
- Organize integrated activities that allow opportunity for the gospel to be shared in a relevant and contextualized way.
- Establish community outreach programs—such as tutoring, sports activities, or practical skills workshops—that respond to the real needs of this segment, helping them to provide for themselves while offering some support.
- Create a prayer and support ministry to intercede for the nations among us, especially for those suffering the conflicts of war and political unrest. I remember very well a book that impacted my life; its author said that the growth success of all the churches he had led was based on having uninterrupted prayer going on 24 hours a day. The intercessors were identified and positioned so that each one would meet at the church at their assigned time, changing posts amongst themselves in a prescribed manner, to fulfill the 24-hour clock cycle every day of the week. I am convinced that at the center every concern, plan, strategy, and organization, we must first dedicate precious time to prayer so that God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, will answer our petitions and respond to our genuine desire to reach souls.
When the church embraces its local call and has a global vision, it becomes a living testimony of God’s love. The only way to achieve this is to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who, in His earthly journey, left us valuable teachings on how to be relevant and life-changing when we selflessly decide to do our part.
