GO UNTIL HE SAYS STOP

The call to "Go" to our community, our state, our continent, and our world was the LAST recorded words of Jesus in Acts 1:8. His last words and His last command should be at the TOP of every Evangelical Christian Church across the globe. It's funny to me, however, that we often shove that command somewhere down the list right after many internal church programs that only appease and entertain those that sit on the pews each week. Reaching the lost of the world must come first. How do we so easily forget, or better yet, ignore this call?

After my first trip to Ukraine, I came back with a life-changing perspective on the importance of telling the world that Jesus lives and is Lord. I was so excited about this new insight and told everyone I knew about the things I experienced and how it had changed me. I became frustrated with the blank stares. I grew bored of the line, "Well I just don't felt led to go myself, but I think it's great that you do."

At what point in God's Word does He say, "Don't 'go' until I say to." Let's see...oh that's right, you won't find it in the Bible. He tells us simply to "Go"! He isn't concerned about your vacation schedule, how hardcore you boss may be, or what your finances are. He is asking, no telling us, to go. My challenge to you today is just to consider the places you "go".

Now let me be clear, I believe that God uses different people for different missions opportunities. For example, Joe Doe may be the type of person that has health issues and can't travel by air. Joe Doe however may be just the perfect person to head up some of the local missions programs that will reach the lost in his community. Mary Doe may work for the government and unable to go to certain countries in the world, but Mary still makes every effort to participate in state and national missions, like Disaster Relief. My point is, you may not be a world traveler or you may hate staying at home. At the end of the day, you simply need to jump on board at your church and "go". Whether it's across the street, across the country, or across the international date line you need to go.

One of the great things about our church body is their ever-increase awareness to go. We have lots of people that aren't necessarily going to get on a plane and fly to Ukraine or South Africa, but we have plenty that can help us with a local mission event we call Community Spring Fest. We feed the entire community for free and have a huge yard sale and great activities for the kids. The first year we did this local mission outreach, we fed about 180 people. This past year the Lord brought almost 1200 to our event and several accepted Christ! Praise God! Almost everyone from our church body turned out to be a part of this outreach event. They did indeed go, even if was to the park down the street!

Where will you "go" and what will you be a part of that may make a difference in someones eternity?