An Un-Optional Commission: Give. Pray. Go.
*This is an extended version of what was in the Fall Launch booklet.
An un-optional commission was given to us by Christ Himself: “Go, 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” (Matthew 28:19-20).
The all nations piece creates the global vision for all followers of Jesus. This vision of “going” isn’t just next door or across the country; it’s going “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). To fulfill this, we have the following routes: Give. Pray. Go. Your job is to choose at least one. Which one will you choose and commit to this year?
Give
Churches outside the US often don’t have as many resources to do ministry as we do. They are forced to get creative to reach people, and God works tremendously through little funds. However, more funds are needed to do things such as purchase or rent bigger buildings to fit the growing faith community, hand out Bibles and supplies to the community, start livestreaming services, buy instruments for worship, obtain resources to get children out of sex trafficking, put on outreach events, and more.
This is exactly why North Heights is committed to support our global partners around the world. We need your help to do this. Will you consider giving a gift so that the gospel reaches the lost around the world?
Click here, and choose “Global Missions” under Funding.
Pray
Remember the nations in your prayers. The spiritual battlegrounds are brutally intense in the nations, and when you pray, you are entering them for just a moment and fighting for life and salvation. There are dozens of countries where fewer than 1% personally know Jesus. Access to the gospel is limited or, in some places, completely unavailable. Your prayers are essential. Consider choosing a country or people group each day, learning about the prayer needs through Joshua Project, and dedicating time to prayer.
Go
The laborers are few, and Jesus called us to “Go.” Where is God calling you? As followers of Jesus, we are called to a life of surrender. Surrender goes deep and gets real when it affects our home, culture, jobs, cars, luxuries. Are we willing to give all that up to follow where God is calling us to go? Becoming a global partner doesn’t always have to be a permanent move. Going could be 2 years, 1 year, or even a month to another country. Going overseas for the sake of Christ doesn’t always need a lifetime. But it always requires surrender.
Prayerfully consider this option, and look into the following agencies: YWAM, AGWM World Missions, Wycliffe, Bethany Gateways.
Bonus Option: Go Glocal
In such a time as this, we have a unique privilege. The nations are coming to us. Glocal is the unique combination of global and local; you don’t need to move across the world to share the gospel with those from other countries. The University of Minnesota alone has 8,861 international students from 124 different countries. The majority of these students aren’t ever invited into an American home, and many are lonely and depressed in the transition of culture shock.
The Hospitality Center is a benevolent partner of North Heights that intentionally creates space for Americans to create deep friendships with international students. There are many volunteer opportunities that you could sign up for today: You could pick a student up from the airport and be the first welcoming face a student sees. You could sign up for a friendship match and meet with an international student regularly. Your small group could host dinners for students twice a month. You could host a student for a holiday. Visit their website to see details about this timely opportunity.
There is urgent work to do. What’s keeping you away from this critical investment into the global vision? In Isaiah 6, God asks, “who will go?” Our prayer is that you will cry out, “Here I am. Send me.”
