Church+Missions

By JOHN HUNT

Missions are at the core of the Christian faith, and it is a vital aspect of the Church’s purpose to spread the Gospel to all nations. The Great Commission, which Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, serves as the foundation for the church’s mission.

Throughout the Bible, we see God’s heart for the nations, and His desire for all to come to repentance and salvation. The Apostle Paul emphasises this in Romans 10:14-15, where he says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”

The Bible teaches that people without Christ are lost, and their eternal destiny is at stake. Considering world events there is an increased urgency to the missions call. The Gospel is the only message that can save them, and it is the church’s responsibility to share it with them. Every mature tree drops seeds, every mature church must have a holistic missions engagement. It is not just tell-tale sign of your maturity, but an agent that brings maturity to the people as well as the church itself.

Missions must be grounded in a solid understanding of God’s character, His plan for salvation, and His purpose for the church. Missions is not something that the Church does; it is something that the Church is. It flows from the heart of God, and it should flow from the heart of every believer. This is why ACCI is so attractive, it brings with it:

Theological alignment

We are a conference that believes in the power of the Holy Spirit and the flow of His gifts, in the operation of Ascension Gift Ministries amongst other important distinctives that set us as a conference apart.

• Organisational protection

It is important to meet ACNC external conduct standards to protect the charitable status of your church. Few churches have the capacity to train their overseas partners in these standards, then hold them accountable to implementation.

• Relational connection

We are a family, and families gather to celebrate together. What a great opportunity to rejoice in the victories with one another, at our national conferences, our international conference ( formerly Pan Asia) and in our state conference.

• Operational integrity.

ACCI is held to the highest standard of accountability by the National Executive. And you can rest assured that all investment goes to the designated place with the smallest amount of administration on the way.

We, the Church, must play a critical role in missions. It is the Church’s responsibility to send and support missionaries, pray for their safety and success, and provide financial resources for their work. The Church is also responsible for raising up new missionaries and providing them with the necessary training and resources.

We need to constantly reinforce the importance of missions, the role of the Church in missions, and the need for a biblical foundation for missions. May we all be obedient to Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations and to share the Gospel with those who have not heard.

Please make sure to engage with us at National Conference. Our Tuesday. Mission stream is at capacity, but please come by our stand and talk to one of the ACCI team.