GCPN | global connection partnership network

The Missional Task of the Church

by Dale Pond, Minister of Missions
Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler, Texas

"Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." II Corinthians 5:17-20
 
I want to consider what I believe to be the primary task of the church. It is the most dangerous, demanding and exhilarating task that the church has been given. It is the task of taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and of helping people to faith in Him. It is what is called the missional task of the church. Let's be honest in admitting that this task no longer exhilarates us. It doesn't stir us and challenge us. Most of us give very little for the accomplishment of this task. We are so unlike the New Testament church. The New Testament church did not have beautiful buildings, educated and trained leadership, modern ways of communication, literature, or elaborate organizational structure. Yet those small bands of Christians literally turned the world upside down.

Why is it that the missional task of the church exhilarates us so little? I believe one reason is that we do not fully understand why the missional task of the church is the primary task of the church. We do not have an adequate rationale, an adequate basis, an adequate understanding as to why this task is at the very heart of the church. Some would tell us that the reason we are to be missional is because of the Great Commission. Of course we believe in the Great Commission. But unless we have a deeper rationale for evangelism and missional activity we will grow weary in hearing the Great Commission. In fact, we have already grown weary hearing it. How many of our church members hear this command of Jesus and it doesn't even faze them?

Read on...

GCPN Global Learning Community and Assessment Team

Global Learning Community-
To assist churches in the equipping of their people for cross-cultural service, GCPN is developing a web-based multi-media learning experience which can be utilized by ministers of mission or church coaches within the church community context. The 42 units of training are intended to be lived out in the laboratory of life within the local church in the local community. The intended result is equipped cross-cultural workers who possess the knowledge and skills to live Christ in any cultural setting. The first coach training is scheduled for January 2008 at Truett Seminary. For more information, contact the GCPN office at 817-276-6494 or at gcpn@fbca.org

Assessment Team-
To assist in pre-assessment, on-field and transitional assessment, GCPN has assembled a team of professionals to serve churches with church-based sending. Issues of preparedness and adjustment are the concern for churches that have people serving around the world. For more information or to offer your services to the GCPN Assessment Team, contact GCPN at gcpn@fbca.org

Recommended Reads- “Mission Possible”

“Mission Possible”
by Marilyn Laszlo

Some books are written for knowledge and some books inspire. Mission Possible, the story of Marilyn Laszlo, is a wonderful combination of both. Her story is really one about God and His call on a life. God put a deep love for the Sepik Iwam people - found in the far reaches of Papua New Guinea - in Lazslo's heart. That love propelled her into an adventure beyond anything she had imagined. Leaving behind the comfortable life of a school teacher, she poured herself into the relentless work of Bible translation for the Sepik Iwam people. Her desire to do whatever it took to reach them sent her on an unbelievable journey of strange sights, poisonous snakes, dense jungles, debilitating disease and complete isolation. Marilyn's willingness to put her life so completely in God's hands and be stretched beyond her wildest dreams is awe inspiring. Her longing to be used by God is a great motivator for people like you and me to get off the sofa and do something to make a difference in the world. You won't want to put this book down. So grab a cup of coffee, settle in to your favorite reading spot, and prepare to be challenged to consider how you too can get busy with God's call on your life.

-Kim Grice, Director of Global Ministries, First Baptist Church of Arlington