– Harvey and Yasmin Cline
Does it come in a dream?
Does it come in an audible voice?
Does it come through a song, a sermon or circumstance?
Does it only come to the spiritually mature, the most holy or those that are considered “worthy” to be used?
No, it’s a call all Christians have received from God regardless of where you come from or where you are now. Regardless of how that call might be confirmed through a song, life circumstance or conversation with a Christian mentor or friend.
Matthew 28:19-20a is a well known passage often referred to as “The Great Commission” where God commands us 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. …”
This call from Jesus was not just for the eleven disciples, but also for all His people. God tells us again in Acts 1:8 that at the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit gives all Christians the power to answer the call.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
In these verses, we not only see God’s call to all of His people, we also see that God’s call is for all people.
This call is not exclusive to the New Testament.
Genesis 12:1-3: “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
It is seen in verse 3 that from the very beginning, God’s heart was for all peoples. The psalmist echoes God’s heart…
Psalm 96:3: “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples.”
The message never changes. We are commanded to tell the world about Jesus Christ. The call is clear, the call is inclusive of every Christian and the call is to reach all peoples of the earth. So, how do we act in obedience to what God commands of us? How do we reach out to every tribe, tongue and nation?
First, ask God.
Pray for guidance and direction. But be wary of asking God to lay out the whole plan for you before you decide to follow it. As a wise Christian mentor once said, “Don’t pray for more clarity, pray for more faith.” Prayerfully surrender to the call and trust that God will equip you to do His work whatever and wherever that is.
Second, learn.
Get some Perspective:
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is a 15-week course that explores God’s heart for all people. It brings fresh knowledge and understanding of God’s unchanging purpose and why it is central to the Christian life. You will look at biblical, historical, cultural and strategic aspects of God’s global purpose. There are various levels of commitment for this course. You can take it for college credit, certificate, or key reading. We participated in the key reading track in Fall of 2013. The journaling we were asked to do along with the weekly reading assignments and guest lectures, transformed our lives. This fall you can experience this global awakening right here on the west side of Indianapolis. The Perspectives class will be held on Tuesday nights starting August 11 at Eagle Church in Whitestown. More info.
Learn about relational holistic outreach:
Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is a strategy that helps people in an impoverished community identify their needs, evaluate their resources, and find solutions within those resources to improve their situations. CHE focuses on training people within a community to take responsibility for their own physical and spiritual health, but the key to this holistic development, is the spiritual teaching incorporated in the training which works to unleash the power of Christ to transform a community.
If you are interested in learning more about CHE, Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI) is hosting Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training this spring at their global headquarters in Indianapolis. It will be held May 4-7 from 8 am -5 pm. The registration deadline is April 1. Register here.
Help without hurting:
The book and small group study, When Helping Hurts has reshaped the way Christians approach poverty alleviation. Authors Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert explore how walking with those in poverty in humble relationship is biblical and will result in lasting change. The small group study combines 6 free online video lessons with discussion questions, application exercises and materials for further learning. Our small group completed this study last spring. It taught us that good intentions and temporary handouts are not enough. We were presented with practical principles to help us engage effectively in loving and serving the materially poor. When Helping Hurts: The Small Group Experience is available through Amazon.
