Fundamentals of Mission & Outreach

Whose Mission Work is it?

Mission and outreach are fundamental to the health of a congregation. They provide the foundation for all the rest of the church’s work in making disciples, building up the church, alleviating suffering, and promoting justice, freedom, and peace.

Central to any mission and outreach effort is the recognition that we all are participants in a work that begins with God, belongs to God, and is being fulfilled by God now and unto the end of time. So while we may be God’s hands and feet, it is God who empowers and sustains the work and the workers.

Who is our neighbor?

Jesus taught us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that anyone in need becomes our neighbor; Jesus’ call for us is to share our material and spiritual bounty with those who are spiritually or materially needy, whether they are next door or across the globe.

What about leadership?

Leadership is an essential element in the success of any group, including the missions and outreach group at the church, however, not everyone is gifted to be a leader. But, while we may not be called to be leaders, some of us can take responsibility for the selection of leaders, and everyone in the church is responsible with supporting the leaders and keeping them accountable.

Experts on the subject of leadership have identified 4 characteristics of good leadership: vision, character (or integrity), empowerment and passion. In our Christian context a dimension of the mission and outreach ministry is that it must have servant centered leadership which is rooted in love. It is not surprising to observe that all leadership characteristics modeled by Jesus to his disciples are recorded in the gospels and should be the model of leadership which we all need to follow so that our praying, giving, and doing are effective.

• His vision was and is redemption for a lost, needy, and wayward people.
• His character was and is mission-driven and people-centered; he was and is a teacher and a friend. He was, is, and always will be God; yet he modeled servant-hood. He was and is forgiving. His character was tested but he was always the same; he acted with integrity.
• Jesus empowered his disciples with the power of the Holy Spirit to make more disciples and equipped them to perform miracles of healing and compassion.
• Jesus taught, ministered, and served with passion. He displayed righteous anger toward the money changers, washed his companions’ feet, fed the hungry and healed the sick.

Yes, it is His mission, we are all called, if we are not the leaders we must choose and support the leaders and … Yes he will empower and equip us to do His will!!!

Call me and we’ll talk mission and outreach at your church.

Jorge.