Are You Living On Mission?

January 24th, 2025

Matthew 28:19-20 has been labeled "The Great Commission," and rightly so. Yet, did you realize there's a presupposition of sorts attached to this call? Though most of us can live it out from our hometown, some are called to go "out" and make an impact for Christ. Read today's blog by Frank Figueroa to see another, and just as important, perspective about how the "go-ers" are empowered to fulfill their mission by those at home.

As we start the new year, I have been contemplating what it means to live life on mission for Jesus and how April and I have lived out and experienced that, especially over the past few years.

Before 2022, I did many things that were Jesus-focused. I taught Bible studies for decades, expounding the Scriptures both in small groups and congregational settings. I have led worship and learned what it was to lead a team of worshipers and the congregation as we worshipped. However, one of the things that has provided absolute joyful satisfaction is participating in mission outreaches.

We know that in Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus tells us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This passage is not merely a suggestion but rather a command, and my wife and I have taken it seriously since we were told to “GO!” We have done several short-term mission trips, both on a local and global level. Whether it was traveling to Kentucky to help out with the beginning few months of the Creation Museum ... or traveling to American Samoa to run Vacation Bible School while hand mixing and laying out a basketball court ... or traveling to Romania to start a Centershot Archery program to serve underprivileged youth and orphans―all from Hawaii! Each of those trips has been an amazing time of proclaiming Jesus, and we have been more than blessed when we have been obedient to go.

There have been other times in our lives, however, when we could not travel for one reason or another. Whether it be a demanding and hectic work schedule or when April was diagnosed with cancer, and we had to remove ourselves from a team that was planning out another mission trip. (And just so I make it clear, April is doing fantastic now and is cancer-free, and God’s mercy in this is one of the reasons we can continue to do what we do.) Simply put, there have been times that we couldn’t “GO,” so we felt left out because we didn’t feel a part of the team.

I was corrected of that mindset by a dear friend and missionary for New Tribes Missions. His name is Mark Reichman, and he and his family spent over 24 years in Papua New Guinea translating the Bible into the language of those who lived there. He reminded me that the mission team actually consisted of two parts: those who “GO” and those who “SEND.” You see, most of the time, the “GOERS” wouldn’t have the privilege to go if it were not for the “SENDERS.” Yes, each has a distinct part as part of the same mission team. And, at times, we may have the privilege of playing different roles within the team. If we can go, then we should GO! But if we don’t, WE CAN STILL SEND!

This is where I would like to thank those who have donated to our ministry. April and I and the rest of our team at Reasons For Hope could not “GO” if we didn’t have you as a part of our team who are willing to “SEND.” Your prayers, contributions, and partnership as part of our team allow us to make the impact we do on the thousands of lives we serve every year as a ministry. We sincerely thank you for affording us the privileges you do, and we want to remind you that you are an essential part of our team, and we are grateful to have you.

A Closing Challenge

If you are new to our ministry, we encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
Am I living on mission?
In other words, am I serving and going where God has called me?
If I cannot go, am I giving (and praying) so that others may go and serve?

Are you looking for an active mission to donate to, where every penny goes towards an active, engaging ministry that truly makes a difference in the lives of others? Please consider Reasons for Hope. See below for our 2025 goals and needs, and if you would like to give towards these outreaches, go to rforh.com/give.

To access our full-color end-of-year newsletter to learn more about our ministry and impact, just click HERE.

To learn more about Frank Figueroa, Jr. and to book him as a speaker, click HERE.

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