This summer is shaping up to be an exciting time as God works through the people of OHBC to “Go Beyond” and spread the gospel, both here and across the nations. Over the six months from June to December, our church will Go on five mission trips—three international, one to another state, and one local. This is truly encouraging to me personally, and I hope it is for the body of Christ at Oakhill as well. As the missions pastor, I find great joy in witnessing the church actively living out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). We are answering the call to go, preparing ourselves with the gospel to share, and dedicating our time to prayer.
Being faithful to God’s call to share the gospel with nations, both locally and internationally, begins with denying ourselves and counting the cost of living out the mandate placed on our lives as followers of Christ. One of the biggest challenges we face in fulfilling this missional call is managing our time. While we all have activities we enjoy during our free time, part of committing to follow Jesus involves being intentional about using that time to make disciples. Being faithful to God’s mandate for all Christians to make disciples means letting go of our tight grip on time for ourselves and dedicating it to others.
For example, twice a month, volunteers from OHBC dedicate their time and talents to the local Food Pantry ministry. Nearly fifty-five volunteers each month have faithfully served for over a year, enduring the weather to help others and being the hands and feet of Jesus. Last month, two individuals prayed to receive Christ, and one was baptized and has been attending church regularly since then. It was very powerful to see our volunteers sharing the gospel and praying in the pouring rain through car windows, and it was clear that God was working through it.
In July, a group of ten students and adult leaders will travel to Decatur, Alabama, to support a local church in its revitalization efforts. They will be canvassing neighborhoods to share the gospel and cleaning classrooms on the church campus. Their presence at this church will be a significant blessing to the congregation and will hopefully inspire them to continue reaching out to their neighbors with the gospel. Please pray that many who will hear are transformed by the gospel of Jesus. There are two other trips to Tokyo occurring during this six- month time frame.
In June, nine individuals will travel to Lusaka, Zambia, for a short-term mission trip to support our missionaries there. This team will participate in a Business as Mission outreach, join a feeding program for children outside the city, and conduct evangelism with a local church. Successfully carrying out these activities requires a significant investment of money, time, planning, and preparation to ensure everything runs smoothly. One important realization that often comes from short-term international mission trips is the understanding that God is completely in control. From the moment the plane takes off until it lands back on U.S. soil, we trust that we are in God’s hands. Going on mission trips like this reminds us that this should always be the posture of our hearts.
The best way to support what God is doing in the lives of His people who are giving their time to go on these trips is through prayer. The reality is that the evil one prowls around like a lion, seeking to destroy all that is good. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to guard the hearts and minds of those who have decided to go. Pray for all aspects of preparation, including logistics, connecting flights, and the timely arrival of luggage at the correct destinations. Also, keep those leading the trips in your prayers. Given all of this, I encourage you to consider what you might be willing to sacrifice to make time for this calling, remembering the mandate God has given us – “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
