NURTURING A
H EALTHY CHURCH The Rev'd Capt Patience Santa Wanzala Credit: Carlile College
The Rev’d Capt Patience Wanzala, Principal of Carlile College, Nairobi, Kenya was to speak at the USPG Rethinking Mission Conference. What follows is an extract from what would have been her presentation. Rethinking mission is a very challenging phrase because it suggests a situation where the church or Christians have forgotten or lost their passion, call and God-given mandate to reach out to the world, community and family with the message of reconciliation. (Paul in 2 Corinthians 5: 14-210). ‘God reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation’. After his resurrection, Jesus met the eleven in Galilee at the mountain. After they had worshipped him, he told them “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, 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…” (Matthew 28: 16-20). In John 20:21, Jesus appears to his disciples after resurrection and says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”. This is the basis of the Great Commission and the reason why the Church is today called to think again about its mission which is Christ mission to the world.
