July 10, 2024

The message and methodology are clear from the book of Acts. Preach the gospel and build healthy churches. God’s Word (the gospel) creates God’s people (the church). The church is designed by God to display the gospel as it preaches, promotes, and protects the gospel. That is why all missions’ endeavors that do not aim to establish or support healthy churches will not last and the efforts and investment will be in vain. Therefore, missions’ endeavors that do not aim to establish and support healthy churches are a waste of time and money.

That paragraph should not be controversial nor surprising and yet, it is amazing how many mission agencies and missionaries do not understand this and therefore do not pursue it. We do. We aim to be generous and discerning with our investment and engagement in missions so that we are fully participating in God’s mission.

This week our high school students are in Denver, CO learning skills as well as being challenged in order to share the gospel faithfully and effectively. Please pray for them right now. Last week, we had a wonderful week of gospel ministry in Manitoulin, Ontario, Canada. You will hear more about this in our Member’s Meeting, July 28, 5.30p. What I am so encouraged about is the growing urgency on the part of our members and now on the part of some key people in Wikwemikong to see a healthy church get established there. We do not know exactly how this is going to happen, but the Lord does. I am thrilled that there is a growing consensus that it has to happen.

That brings me to my point for this blog. Many of you prayed for our team in Manitoulin last week. Thank-you! The Lord kindly answered those prayers. But while the week is over, the mission is not. We need to be like the church in Antioch that sent out Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13) and became such a powerful beachhead for gospel churches throughout the Roman Empire. Will you regularly pray with me that the Lord raises up the people and provisions needed to plant a healthy church in Wikwemikong? The need is real and the door appears to be open.

“Lord, will you raise up leaders for this and cause your people to engage in your mission to see a church that displays your glory among the 1st Nations’ People?”

For the church, for the world,

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Luke 7.18-23