As followers of Christ, we are called by God to live holy lives, set apart from the pervasive sin that afflicts the world. At the same time, the imperative found in Matthew 28:19–20 compels us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (NIV). This directive is a command to maintain contact with the world for the purpose of sharing the gospel message. Furthermore, the passage in Acts 1:8 states, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” God’s Word holds us accountable to carry the gospel to the ends of the world.
Our forefathers understood this ordinance well and embarked on a global mission to take the message of Jesus of Nazareth to every nation, with the ultimate goal of reaching the farthest corners of the earth. This endeavor was propelled by the declaration of Jesus in John 3:17, where he explains the purpose of his incarnation: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Consequently, Jesus’ miraculous feats and extraordinary wonders were never his primary objective; rather, his focus was on the salvation of humanity.
However, due to the influence of contemporary trends and ecclesiastical priorities, many members of the body of Christ are more interested in supporting secondary mission projects rather than investing in the missionaries who daily encounter the most severe economic challenges in fulfilling their mission responsibilities. While it is imperative that we continue to assist projects that benefit our communities, as this has been and remains an integral aspect of the ministry of Jesus and the church, this should not prevent us from continuing to generously support our missionaries.
In conclusion, community involvement is paramount, as we cannot disregard the needs of those to whom we minister. However, it is essential to recognize that this type of help is only a part of the ministry of Jesus. It serves as a tangible manifestation of God’s love and our own love for our neighbors. At the same time, we live in a world held captive by the enemy of our souls—a world that also needs to know the biblical narrative, the gospel message, and how to be discipled. This can only be accomplished through individuals who have made the courageous decision to leave their familiar surroundings, like Abraham did, to fulfill the call to missions. These precious individuals need our support so that they will lack nothing and therefore can focus solely on communicating divine truths to a world that is, as mentioned, held in captivity, afflicted, and filled with despair. Let’s not forget our missionaries when we raise mission offerings in our local churches; they too are vitally important to the propagation of the truth as they share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ around the world.
May our Lord Jesus Christ keep you and bless you as you serve “on mission” with him.
– Bishop Gabriel E. Vidal, DMin / South America General Presbyter