When Jesus explained to His disciples that He was going to send them “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) He didn’t mean for them to skip their own neighborhood. The mandate to GO with Christ’s message of love and forgiveness included Jerusalem and Judea as much as it did Greece and Rome. It was just as important to Jesus that the Jews heard the Gospel as it was for those of Cilicia, Pamphylia, Galatia, Achaia and Macedonia. For us this means that Clackamas County is just as much our mission field as Mexico, Honduras, Chile or Kenya.

            God has obviously blessed this congregation because of our heart to be involved in taking Christ to the nations. Our budget reflects that heart as we allocate 14.5% for missions (including overseas, local, Bible college and benevolence ministries). We also send teams of youth and adults on short-term mission trips which has increased our understanding of what God is doing around the world, and results in a greater understanding of our responsibility to proclaim the Gospel right here in our own culture. God is using our willingness to go across international borders to prompt us to go across the street. It is exciting to have three who grew up in this congregation to now be involved in ministry in Mexico with AMOR—that is a great result of our mission involvement over the past 12 years. But it is just as exciting to observe and hear of members who share their faith with friends and family, who see and respond to needs within the body and community, who in countless ways act on our Lord’s command to GO! This is what Jesus wants of His Church, to see the whole world as our mission field, and then be His representative wherever He sends us.

            Obviously there are many ways this is accomplished. Our new building and our intentionally named “Community Center” can provide new opportunities for reaching our community. This facility is not just for our needs. Let’s dream of ways we can open our doors to be involved in greater ways to those outside our walls. (As a mission, don’t forget our financial obligation to pay for this building and to support the monthly church budget.)

            One way we desire to be more involved locally is through the ministry of LOVE INC. This is a ministry designed to help existing churches and agencies to better meet the legitimate needs in our community, and to meet them more effectively. “Love in the Name of Christ” has as it’s stated goal to “enable churches and ministries in a community to pool their resources and outreach services so that those in need are not turned away.” Begun in 1977 in Holland, Michigan, Love INC now partners with World Vision and is involved in 30 states seeking to help churches help people. Our Mission Team has added the local Clackamas County chapter to our mission budget and we will have a Love INC Sunday on March 12 where we will hear how we can be involved in this ministry to our greater community. This will not only help us better respond to needs that are known to us, but also to use our skills and abilities to serve “in the Name of Christ.” Remember that Jesus said when we have done something to the least we have done it to Him. We believe this new partnership will open doors to help us all be faithful in obeying Christ’s command to go, and be living examples of the Gospel right here close to home.

            “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17) 

 P.S. You are also participating in Christ’s commission to GO when you greet and welcome those who come to visit during our time of worship. Our guests have taken the hardest steps to come into our building—we need to take the last step by going up and welcoming them. Find out who they are. Offer them one of our new Attendance Cards. Encourage them to leave a card so we can respond to their requests for information about this church. Use these cards yourself to share prayer needs or to volunteer for some of the different ministries of this congregation.

Denis Whittet