As people committed to following Jesus, how do we answer this question?
We can come up with any number of responses, but the request of Jesus was very succinct. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”, then “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matt 22:37) But really, how does this play out in my life and in the activities of GC3?
Everyone on the Board of GC3 is unashamedly passionate about the explaining of the gospel message in relevant and practical ways, particularly within a cross-cultural context. Like Paul, we “are not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16). This is the cornerstone of what motivates us. This is the driver for all we do. It is a part of what Jesus has asked us to do.
You might ask, “In practical terms, what shape does that take?”
First, we know our experience and knowledge can be invaluable when people want to engage in mission cross-culturally. That might be to help raise awareness of God’s heart for the nations in a church or it might involve us walking alongside someone who realises God is calling themm to invest their life to intentionally explain the gospel to those from another culture.
To deliver on this we -
• encourage conversations with one of our three Directors around any enquiry you might have
• can provide someone to talk to your church, your leadership or missions committee
• have our ‘Renew’ Mission Summits being held across the country in March this year
• invest in our Headspace program, a missional gap-year for school leavers
• have our ‘Commendation Process’publication which sets out the biblical mandate for mission and suggested topics to be discussed with church leaders
Then, we have the infrastructure to serve and support mission partners scattered all around the globe. With this focus we work alongside the sending church to ensure mission partners are well cared for.
To assist with the support of mission partners we -
• email our weekly e-Connect for up-todate prayer requests and other relevant information
• publish our annual Daily Prayer Guide which contains useful information and a structured approach to praying
• handle gifts and donations and make monthly remittances to partners
• have ‘Investing in the Future of Mission’, a booklet explaining how to use Wills and Family Trusts effectively
• provide ‘Returning …’ resources containing suggestions of matters to address when a partner comes back to New Zealand
• have our ‘Health and Safety for Mission Partners’ publication to explain the obligations a sending church has
Now that’s how we answer that question, but how would you?
Why don’t you become part of the big team involved in cross-cultural mission? It could be you make a personal commitment to pray and support a mission partner. It could be a greater involvement in ‘things mission’ in your home church. It could be responding to the tug God has on your heart to go to your neighbour or to some place off-shore to tell others about your faith and to share God’s love in a practical
way. There are lots of ways to prepare for doing that, for getting out there and doing life as a witness, or supporting others who are already there, involved in some way. Contact us if you think we can help you. Your journey is important to us.
Sefton Marshall
Operations Director