Because of the amazing love and grace of the triune God for sinners worldwide, there is a great need to fulfil our Lord’s command to “go 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 to remember His promise “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world”. The Lord saves people through the means of grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, but also through the local church’s love and obedience and their engagement in their community. As He sent His disciples to the immediate city (Jerusalem), to the whole region (Judea), to the neighbouring region (Samaria) and to the end of the earth, so we have a similar responsibility to evangelize, baptize and teach in Cardiff, Wales, the UK and out to the rest of the world. There is a responsibility of individual members to “gossip” the Gospel and of the church to organize activities for non-believers and to set aside people to work as pastors and missionaries. We should be making this one of our highest priorities.
Responsibilities of Heath Church
Therefore, we should be:
- Presenting as frequently as necessary the Great Commission to the whole church on Sundays and during midweek meetings, encouraging prayer for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the field. The field may be local, national and international.
- Seeking the Lord’s will when a person has expressed an interest in missionary work to the Pastor or Elder.
- Engaging with the person seeking to become a missionary, affirming their commitment and involvement with other missionary activities in the church context.
- In collaboration with the missionary committee, agreeing the financial support which will be necessary.
- Arranging a special service at an appropriate time to present the missionary candidate to the church and for prayer regarding their service.
- Being cognizant of the stresses and various issues that will affect the missionary when on the field and seeking ways of ameliorating these.
- Calling for personal and corporate prayer as the priority if the means of grace, especially preaching, is to be effective and empowered by the Holy Spirit; and arranging for a prayer group with which the applicant will become involved when on the field.
- Preparing regular updates about their work at the Church Prayer Meeting and meeting with the missionary when they are on furlough/home for other reasons.
- Including their work each month in the Church Prayer Diary.
- Actively connecting with the respective missionary society in which they have been accepted.
- Helping a missionary to support their family if the missionary committee ascertain that they cannot provide support for parents who are elderly or in poor health.
- When possible, visiting the field by an Elder in support of the missionary.
- Taking care for the general welfare of missionaries upon returning home, whether temporarily or permanently, and making sure that each missionary plans a pension for retirement.
Responsibilities of the missionary
- Seeking the Lord’s will regarding their calling to missionary work.
- Engaging with the pastor, church elders and missionary committee regarding their calling for missionary work and the financial support required.
- Agreeing with and committing to the statements of faith of the church and maintaining these when on the field.
- Seeking the appropriate missionary society with which they will be involved .
- Respecting the cultural differences of those in their chosen field of work with love.
- When on the field, sending regular prayer information to the church and missionary committee.
- Informing the church, through the missionary committee, of any proposed change of plan, home leave or any new developments in their missionary service.
- Making preparation for eventual retirement.
PRAYER!
More prayer at every opportunity; prayer especially for preaching, believing and prevailing prayer. Prayer too not only for missionary work, but to know, love, enjoy and glorify our covenant keeping God.
“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38
"God’s work is not man working for God; it is God’s own work, though often wrought through man’s hands. God’s work, done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply" Hudson Taylor
