“Souls First” [Fulfilling the Missions Mandate]

We give thanks and praise to God for his grace, love and mercy that has brought us through 2011 with all of its challenges and I dare say, some victories.  Another Missions Conference is here and we are continuing with our theme of “Soul First” [Fulfilling the Missions Mandate]. This year we are reminding ourselves that we have a mandate from God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and therefore we pray that this theme will encourage us to prioritize our lives so that we can fulfil the Missions mandate [St Matthew 28:19-20]!

My brothers, sisters, friends; Jesus did not die to save us so that we can come to Church when we can.  But He saved us so that we can get to heaven.  Our job is to prepare people for heaven, for service and to live according to God’s standards!

We have a mandate from God which we have to engage together!  To engage means to put in gear, to occupy [the enemy] – we need to engage the enemy of men’s souls – to interlock, to hold forcefully and to bind! The mandate is not for the Government or the Police; it is for the Church, the Body of Jesus Christ. Jesus said “Go ye therefore” – go and engage. Souls are perishing around us; the Church has an assignment from God.  We have an order and are obligated to engage and fulfil the work entrusted to us.  We are admonished to “tell the wicked” and also to “tell the righteous

To the Christian Missionary and those who send him/ her out, Missions is the Christian Church trying to win others to Christ and the Christian faith, especially through groups of selected workers called missionaries and others. Missions means carrying the Gospel to those who have not been able to hear and accept the Gospel: and establishing the Church where it has not already been established.

• Engage in activities to build up the body of Church and restore the family unit
• Engage in mission and development of the local community
• Engage in street, prison and outreach ministries
• To commit to financial support of the National Missions Department.

• To conduct periodic visits to all the Assemblies and in particular the smaller ones to encourage and enhance growth.
• To provide some financial assistance in areas where help is needed.