Missions

        We desire to be obedient to the Great Commission wherever God leads us.  And Jesus…spoke to them, saying,..."Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

 

We believe in world missions, which is cross-cultural and overseas; and we believe in community ministry, which is ministering to our own community. Our three major goals, whether overseas in world missions or locally in community ministry are to:

 

1. Know Him – By introducing our people to the mission experience, we desire that they know Christ in such a deeper way that their hearts are set on fire for God’s work in the world and in community ministry. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road… Luke 24:31,32. We believe that being involved in world missions and community ministry is a valuable part of a person’s growth in Christ.

 

2. Treasure Him – By adequately equipping and entrusting the gospel into the hands of faithful men and women, we desire to see people who treasure in Christ perpetuate the message of our Savior to their own environments and other people, thus causing others to treasure Christ as well.  The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

 

3. Make Him Known  - By physically meeting the dire needs of people and by evangelizing those in desperate need of the Gospel, especially those who are of unreached people groups, we desire to make Christ known. Known to the needy, as they witness God’s faithfulness through us ministering to them in seeing their need taken care of; Known to the unreached as they hear and see the love of the Gospel - perhaps for the first time – spoken directly to and for them. Known to all, to affect their eternal destiny. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.  Psalms 67:2

 

     All believers in Christ are senders or sent ones. We believe this is especially true of American believers in Christ because our Lord said, From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.  Luke 12:48   The ongoing argument is made that “if we simply supply the finances rather than sending the people, more can be done to meet the need.” But, there is error in that thinking. As people “go,” their eternal perspectives are transformed forever. From just such experiences God raises up the Jim Elliot’s, William Carey’s, Hudson Taylor’s and George Mueller’s that will be part of seeing their world come to glorify Christ. There is a depth to knowing Him, treasuring Him, and making Him known that can only be found in the experience of missions.

 

     Our involvement in Missions at this time is primarily through financial support, Wednesday night “Live Out Loud Mission’s nights” and short-term mission trips. We desire to go a minimum of two weeks a year overseas, but will do more as God leads. We will endeavor that His name be known among all the nations. Our involvement in community ministry involves both financial support to several organizations and many people of MCC serving outside MCC’s four walls in order to see His Kingdom expand.