KEEPING A KINGDOM MINDSET.
As we help people find Christ, their place in the body, and their mission to the world, it should be required of us to also engage heavily in global missions. The call of Jesus to go into all of the world and make disciples involves the action of all who are part of Christ’s kingdom. Our aim is to make Jesus known to all the world so that He may be glorified greatly, His kingdom advance, and those lost in darkness may come into His marvelous light. There are many ways that we strive to involve ourselves by increasing our global gospel footprint. Here are some of the venues through which missions happens at Cross Life Church.
THE ALLIANCE
As we are part of The Alliance, we participate as one of God’s end-times families raised up by God to complete His Great Commission. We provide humanity’s single most needed resource—the love of Jesus—while we fulfill our God-appointed role working together rather than independently. Over the last century The Alliance has been able to serve in some of the most hostile locations where the gospel of Jesus Christ has yet to be heard; together we continue through giving, sending, and going as a church united under the cry of “Go!”
SUPPORT
Whether across the room or across the globe, as believers we are family. This causes us to support both in prayer and in financial support certain individuals and families who have invested into our lives and us to them. As Christ continues to lead us, He will inevitably call some to other places. As a church, it is our privilege to send them and “hold the rope” (as John Piper might say) while they descend into the dark places carrying the light of the love of Jesus. Some of these families and individuals (so far) include:
The Welch Family
Missionaries to Tanzania, Africa
Find out more about the Welch family and how you can help support them in prayer and gifts as they minister in Tanzania, Africa by visiting here: http://www.welchmissions.org/
Joel & Kim Anderson
Missionaries to Denver, Colorado
Joel and Kim met at college, worshipped together at Cross Life Church, and eventually fell in love. But Jesus had an adventure waiting for them! After much prayer, this is what Joel and Kim Anderson announced:
God has called Kimberly and myself to move to Denver and work among the urban street population. I will be working at Street2Life, which is a t-shirt printing business. The business hires those living on the street to give them a job and discipleship. This business is a side ministry of Open Door Ministries.
This position will be support based pay for the first two years. So we are completely relying on God to provide in all ways for us. We will be newly married, moving halfway across the country, living away from family, living in a new environment, and starting a new job. We are extremely excited for this opportunity that God has placed before us.
GOING OURSELVES
We love sending…but we probably love going just as much (maybe more)! Jesus says that we are the light of the world because it is Him who lives and works through us as His children. In fact, Christ promises us that as the Holy Spirit empowers us as individuals that we will witness incredible miracles of grace as we submit ourselves to the work of the gospel. For Cross Life Church, this presents itself in both local missions and short term missions trips.
Missions Trips
One of the greatest experiences is to meet other believers from a completely different place and culture. What is even greater is to witness Jesus gathering people to Himself as the good news of His salvation is shown and preached. Cross Life Church has a tradition of connecting with missionaries and traveling with bags full of goodies and hearts ready to proclaim Jesus! Some of the places we’ve connected with include El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.
Local Missions
God has placed us right where He wants us. As we represent Christ in all that we do, we have the responsibility to our neighborhoods and communities to increase our gospel footprint so that every man, woman, and child can have repeated opportunities to respond to the good news of Jesus. We also unite together in larger efforts to invest into our communities. In addition we love networking with other churches and organizations to help show tangible love to those around us. For instance, often you will find us planning events such as VBS in specific neighborhoods instead of hosting everything at our church building. Our mission is simple: Go. Be. Do. Worship.
IT’S IMPORTANT
If it’s not obvious yet, we are all about missions. Jesus Christ is the first missionary that we see who left the pleasure and comfort of His home in heaven and came to that which was not His own to live as a man on earth. He did this so that we could have access to the Father by believing in Him. If we love and follow such a God who gave Himself for us, we too ought to give of ourselves. Missions also exists for us as…
Loving and caring for our neighbors.
Ministering to our co-workers.
Planting churches for greater gospel influence.
Giving to those in need.
In fact, it is so important to us that we purposely structure our work and finances around this that it is the largest portion of our budget as a church. Whether with people, resources, or money, we desire to be generous with all that God gives us.