“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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.” Amen.” Matt. 28:18-20 NJKV”
All evangelical Christians know, or at least should know those final verses in the Gospel of Matthew, what we call “The Great Commission.” Yet how many of us take the call seriously? How many of us just see a bunch of words at the end of a book in the Bible? I have heard it said, by my friend, Pastor Bill Moberly and others, that “The Great Commission is not an option.” Yet in too many cases, that is what it has become. How is your church fulfilling the Great Commission? More importantly, how are you fulfilling the Great Commission in your life?
Too often, the answer is, “my church supports a missionary”, or “we send money to (our denomination) for world missions.” Or, more sadly, “We gave canned goods to the food shelf.” It is not that these things are not important, and I am not minimalizing them, but are they truly fulfilling our Lord’s call to “Go”? I honestly believe that every Christian should, at some point in their life, experience at least a short-term missions trip. And before you protest, I know; everybody has obligations and responsibilities. I know, the economy is tight right now. I know the kids have activities that parents need to be at. I know that you have been planning that vacation for a year now. I know, you have to get a passport, and airfare is so expensive right now. I know…I know…I know…
I also know there are needs to be met. I know that you, whoever you are, you can help meet those needs. And I know that there are nations that you can reach out to, without a passport, without a visa. Nations within our own United States, where the need is as acute as in any “third world” country on the planet. Nations where poverty, neglect, alcoholism and teen suicide and years, centuries, of hurt and pain have created an environment of fear, distrust and despair. Communities where Christianity is considered the oppressive religion of the invading culture that forced the people from their land and their own culture from their children; so much so that only 3%, you read that right, three per cent of those people call Jesus the Lord and Savior.
These are the nations that the Traveler’s reach out to. The First Nations, the “host people” of our land; the Native Americans of the Great Sioux Nations of South Dakota. The Mandan-Hidatsa of North Dakota, the Shoshone and the Nez Pierce of Montana and Idaho. Only a month and a half are left before we are to return for the third year to the Sioux of South Dakota, and we, the Traveler’s Missions of St. Brendan’s in the Pines need your help. We need people who can swing a hammer, or pass out cold drinks and student backpacks. People who can install plumbing or air conditioners or make hot dogs and sno-cones. And people who can take a bicycle across 100 miles of reservation roads, praying for the people that live there, and with the people they meet as they travel. We need backpacks and school supplies. Hand tools and building materials. Riders, workers, pray-ers. We need you. The Sioux people need you. The Great Commission needs you. Do you hear the call? Will you answer?
We are proceeding on…
St. Brendan’s Two-Wheeled Explorer
All evangelical Christians know, or at least should know those final verses in the Gospel of Matthew, what we call “The Great Commission.” Yet how many of us take the call seriously? How many of us just see a bunch of words at the end of a book in the Bible? I have heard it said, by my friend, Pastor Bill Moberly and others, that “The Great Commission is not an option.” Yet in too many cases, that is what it has become. How is your church fulfilling the Great Commission? More importantly, how are you fulfilling the Great Commission in your life?
Too often, the answer is, “my church supports a missionary”, or “we send money to (our denomination) for world missions.” Or, more sadly, “We gave canned goods to the food shelf.” It is not that these things are not important, and I am not minimalizing them, but are they truly fulfilling our Lord’s call to “Go”? I honestly believe that every Christian should, at some point in their life, experience at least a short-term missions trip. And before you protest, I know; everybody has obligations and responsibilities. I know, the economy is tight right now. I know the kids have activities that parents need to be at. I know that you have been planning that vacation for a year now. I know, you have to get a passport, and airfare is so expensive right now. I know…I know…I know…
I also know there are needs to be met. I know that you, whoever you are, you can help meet those needs. And I know that there are nations that you can reach out to, without a passport, without a visa. Nations within our own United States, where the need is as acute as in any “third world” country on the planet. Nations where poverty, neglect, alcoholism and teen suicide and years, centuries, of hurt and pain have created an environment of fear, distrust and despair. Communities where Christianity is considered the oppressive religion of the invading culture that forced the people from their land and their own culture from their children; so much so that only 3%, you read that right, three per cent of those people call Jesus the Lord and Savior.
These are the nations that the Traveler’s reach out to. The First Nations, the “host people” of our land; the Native Americans of the Great Sioux Nations of South Dakota. The Mandan-Hidatsa of North Dakota, the Shoshone and the Nez Pierce of Montana and Idaho. Only a month and a half are left before we are to return for the third year to the Sioux of South Dakota, and we, the Traveler’s Missions of St. Brendan’s in the Pines need your help. We need people who can swing a hammer, or pass out cold drinks and student backpacks. People who can install plumbing or air conditioners or make hot dogs and sno-cones. And people who can take a bicycle across 100 miles of reservation roads, praying for the people that live there, and with the people they meet as they travel. We need backpacks and school supplies. Hand tools and building materials. Riders, workers, pray-ers. We need you. The Sioux people need you. The Great Commission needs you. Do you hear the call? Will you answer?
We are proceeding on…
St. Brendan’s Two-Wheeled Explorer
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