Just Go!

There is a village in the Luwero district of Uganda that has my heart. When I go to this village, the sweetest smiling faces run to greet me, calling out “Mommy Christa!” It is a humbling experience to think that God would set up connections over time and over seas to get me to this place.

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It’s amazing to look at all God has done to connect us with this place. He brought one little boy to the states to sing in an African children’s choir. From that, the little boy, Paul, was able to stay in the states with a family and go to high school. He was able to stay on for college and attends a college near us. He started coming to our church and getting involved with music, children’s ministry, and youth ministry. He began to share what his desire was for his village in Uganda- to rescue orphaned children and provide for their needs, send them to school, and raise them to know Jesus. Paul never asked for anything to help with this, but the children at our church through VBS wanted to be a part. For the past three years they participate in a penny war during VBS to give to what is now called Afayo Ministry in Uganda. Through the change and money children at VBS in Georgia bring, a group of 30+ orphans have a home, education, beds, clothes, a piece of land where now a school has been started, a well for clean water, and much more! Now we are able to take teams to this village with medical care, pastor training, support for the children’s home, and the message that Jesus loves them so much he went to the cross for their sins. He offers eternal life for those who will trust him.

All of this because God chose to bring a little guy from Luwero district to a small town in North Georgia and now chooses to use these connections to get his message across continents.

God could use any means necessary to get his message of hope to people all over the world, but he trusts us and allows us to do it. He wants us to be the vehicle by which the world hears the message of Jesus. It’s one of the last things Jesus told us to do, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

This set of directions from Jesus we refer to as “The Great Commission”, the great task that God has given us. It seems overwhelming, doesn’t it? Make disciples of all nations!? How in the world would we do that? Jesus answered that question as well when he said in Acts 1, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus promises us the power to do it and gives us the places to do it as well.

As Jesus laid out this plan for how we are to share his message, he broke it down for us. Start close- in Jerusalem where you live, then spread out- to the surrounding areas, then to the end of the earth. This is how I want to encourage you. Start close and then spread out until you are making disciples from your home to the ends of the earth.

I want to give you some ideas of how you can be on mission, how you can join in what God is already doing and get connected with his work all around you. There are endless opportunities for you to be on mission if you are only willing. I will give you some ideas, but know there are thousands that I am not even aware of. Don’t try to do them all. Pray about where God is leading you. What are you passionate about? Where has God stirred your heart to get involved? Then just jump in! When you decide and determine you want to be a part of the mission of making disciples, every obstacle in the world will try to keep you from it. Of course the enemy will oppose you taking the gospel to others, you can expect that. But don’t let that stop you!

There are organizations and charities that are doing amazing work for people but are not necessarily evangelistic. I would just encourage you to watch out for who you align yourself with. If your mission and goal is to make disciples and share the message of Jesus, make sure you are joining with others who have that same mission. With that being said, there are organizations that are not necessarily Christian organizations, but that we can partner with for gospel purposes. For example, I learned about an organization that repurposes used eyeglasses. The organization is not evangelistic, but were willing to give us glasses to take on a trip to Uganda where we were able to use them to share the gospel with people as they came through our clinic.

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Step out in faith. Decide one way you will be intentional about making disciples and take a step to get involved. I can’t wait to see how God is going to use you!

In Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the first place we want to start making disciples, the places that are closest to us. This starts in our homes first. We are responsible for making disciples of those that live under our roof. Our great privilege as parents is to lead our children to Jesus and show them what it means to follow him after salvation. The mission starts close- with our own addresses.

We obviously don’t live in Jerusalem, but the people Jesus was talking to in Acts did. He meant for them to start in their own cities and towns. What are some ways you can start making disciples in your neighborhood or in your town?

• Host a Bible study in your home
• Invite neighbors for a neighborhood soup night, fall festival in the backyard, or some kind of neighbor gathering
• Take something to a neighbor, introduce yourself and start getting to know them to lead to a gospel conversation
• Seek out local agencies that are gospel centered such as: crisis pregnancy centers, food banks, clothing assistance, and donate items needed or a few hours a month
• Get involved with foster care in your area. You don’t have to be a foster parent to help with foster care. Check out Faith Bridge foster care ministry to see if they are operating in your area. It could be helping with meals or transportation.
• Support local ministries when you get a chance. Run in a 5k that supports a ministry, go to a dinner sponsored by a ministry, give prizes from your business for them to use as giveaways or raffles at events.
• Prison ministry- get involved by visiting or writing to people in prison. Be sure to include the message of hope and victory that Jesus offers.
• Serve those that serve. Do something kind and thoughtful for local police, EMT, fire, teachers, etc. Be creative and use this as an opportunity to tell them why you are reaching out to them.
• Domestic violence shelters- call and ask how you can help or serve
• Addiction rehab facilities- call and ask if there is a way you can serve
• Nursing homes- visit and have gospel conversation with the residents

In Judea and Samaria

When Jesus mentions these places in Acts, he is referring to the areas north and south of Jerusalem. I would say these are areas in our state or country that we can get involved.

• Disaster relief- seek out a way to get involved with disaster relief after natural disasters. There are a variety of areas from storm clean up to feeding first responders.
• State orphan and foster care. In our state, the Georgia Baptist Children’s home and Winshape children’s homes serve hundreds of children. There are others like these as well. Reach out and see what you can do to help. They can always use supplies and groceries.
• Local free clinics. If you are a medical professional, a few hours a week could make a huge difference in a local clinic. If you are like me and want nothing to do with anything medical, you can volunteer to check people in or any of the non gross things! 😉
• Sex trafficking ministries- search for these ministries and call to see how you can help. If you can’t go, there may be supplies that you can gather and send.
• Homeless ministries- search for homeless ministries near you and ask what you can do to help.
• For more ideas for ministries in north America, look at the North American Mission Board for ministries you can be involved in.

To the End of the Earth

The possibilities for getting the gospel to the end of the earth is limitless. I know of people who are reaching people with any means you can think of- art, technology, music, sports, medical, teaching English, and so many other ways. Going to the ends of the earth may not be an option for you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved. You share in the mission when you give, when you pray, and when you get involved in any way. We work as a team when we all participate in the mission.

Find a mission organization or missionary that you are passionate about and find out how you can be involved. What do they need? How can you help them meet that need? I talked to someone recently that watches for sales on shoes. They collect shoes during the year to send with a team that uses shoes to share the gospel. There are so many ways you can get plugged in. Check with your local church about ties they have overseas or check out the International Mission Board to see what God is doing all over the earth and how you can be involved.

It is a blessing to us to be a part of Afayo Ministry (afayoministries.com) and to see God use it and grow it. I see the impact it is having in Uganda and love the ongoing relationship we have and to see the difference it is making. You can have that connection as well with a ministry and be a part of taking the gospel to the end of the earth.

Just Go!

It would be impossible for all of us to be involved in everything, but we can be involved in something. Something that is getting the message of Jesus to people close to us and to people far away. It is a privilege to join in the mission of making disciples everywhere. Find where God is working and just go! Go into all the world!

Feel free to comment with other ideas you have for ministry locally or globally.

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Christa