3.06.26

Dear Grace Family,

GO Week has been such a wonderful time together. Shawn and Becky have helped us remember the “least of these” in beautiful but challenging places who need both the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel in their lives. I like the double entendre of “GO” because, yes, it’s about Global Outreach but it’s also an invitation to go and be a part of what God’s doing. 

When Rachel and I started sensing God’s call on our lives to leave the U.S. for the sake of people around the world who needed the gospel he used two short-term trips to confirm it. First we went to Taipei, Taiwan in 2005, the same place our Grace team is serving this week!! Second was a trip to Germany where we realized many European countries, once highly Christian had less than 2% of their population who would characterize themselves as a Jesus-follower. 

It took us getting out of our comfort zones and asking challenging questions to hear from God the truth of what He was inviting us to. I wonder what that might mean for you and your family? What would it look like to spend some time at least every week praying about what God was doing around the world? What would it mean to consider giving to Global Outreach, going on a mission trip, or (maybe the hardest thing) sending your own kids on trips or to be full-time workers around the world? 

On Sunday we’re going to be reminded that while we face troubles in our world, and this week we see many of those on the news, it’s not the only way of seeing the world. God is writing stories in spite of or because of the chaos.. And, while we pray for the safety of our friends and Alliance workers, we also ask that He would continue to complete His great commission and we can see Him at work. I’m very excited to share with you an Alliance World Tour I wrote a few months ago and see what God might do in our midst. 

As a reminder, and many of you know this because of Jonathan and Mary’s new role within our family of churches, but Grace is a part of an amazing denomination called the Christian and Missionary Alliance. From the beginning we have been focused on the deep life found in Jesus and on the mission he calls us to. That mission is expressed through aXcess (church planting), CAMA (relief and development), Envision (short-term and leadership development), and Marketplace Ministries (business as mission). What might God invite you to partner with or join? I’ll be eager to find out :) 

Trusting the Lord of the Harvest,

Pastor Tim