On Mission Together

10 hours ago

4 min read

Written by Briana Southerland, Missions Pastor

Hey FAC!

I’m Briana, Missions Pastor, and I’ve just returned from maternity leave. I’ve had a great year with my family and have been able to spend precious time with my little guy, Jack, who turned 1 just a few weeks ago.

October is an exciting time to return to work on the Missions Team because we are just about to celebrate FAC International Weekend with a Street Fest and Global Missions-focused weekend services.

As I sit here anticipating one of my favourite weekends of the year, FAC International Weekend, I cannot help but think that we, as the church, need to be reminded that God’s Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven, is not of this world.

It does not look like our broken world.

It is not anxious about the affairs of the world.

It is not worried about the government.

It is not afraid of those who do not live like Jesus.

Jesus told the Roman governor in His day:

“My Kingdom is not of this world.”

I hope Jesus’ words make you overjoyed, relieved, and expectant.

We are living in turbulent times. The world around us is trying to teach us to fear our neighbours and foreigners, and to scapegoat immigrants, the vulnerable, and those who are hurting for our problems.

But Jesus stood, and still stands, in opposition to the world when He declared that the Kingdom of Heaven is different. As a church, we, too, need to look different from the world around us.

International Weekend is a time when we intentionally look to Jesus for the vision He has for the hurting and ask to be filled with a fresh passion for the nations around the world, and right here in Canada, who still need to hear about their Creator, their Saviour, and their Redeemer, Jesus.

God has always intended to use us as His followers to reach the world with the Good News. As followers of Jesus living on mission in our world, we break through the darkness with the countercultural Kingdom of Heaven. We see lives transformed, hope born, addictions broken, families restored, and the hurting mended through the supernatural healing of Jesus.

We have nothing to fear because the Kingdom we belong to is “not of this world.”

This year’s theme is On Mission Together. We all have a part to play in God’s mission, and we cannot complete this mission alone. As we surrender our individual plans to be realigned with Jesus’ plans, we get to be part of the renewal of all things, wherever we are in the world.

As we work together as a church community to humbly and lovingly share the Good News of Jesus, this renewal begins to become evident. We can share Jesus through our relationships, our acts of service and care, our conversations with neighbours, our prayers offered up in faith, and the way we steward our resources.

Together, we bring hope to a fractured, hopeless world.

Can you imagine if everyone who calls FAC their church family caught the vision to love others with the radical, countercultural love of Jesus Christ?

Our city of Calgary would be a better place. Now, I fully know our city is already a better place because of the welcoming community of FAC, but I know God can do more through us. There could be hundreds, if not thousands, of people who encounter the love of Jesus each day if we all prayed that God would use us and give us opportunities to befriend someone who needs the hope of Jesus.

Maybe Jesus is challenging you to be more intentional about building relationships with a neighbour or inviting someone who seems interested in faith conversations to Alpha. Maybe you could show Jesus to someone by helping a new immigrant learn English or tutoring their children in school.

Could you be a voice of reconciliation in your workplace, mentor a new employee, or intentionally sit with your co-workers over the lunch hour?
Could we slow down and simply see people as Jesus sees them, created in the image of God?
Could we lay down our fears of another culture or people group and get curious?

Ask someone to share their story. Show genuine, Christ-like interest in getting to know someone. Jesus went to the margins of society and did not let social norms dictate how He loved. Let’s look to Him to guide us in our relationships, not fear or social pressures.

God’s Kingdom is not of this world, but He cares deeply for it. He sent His Son to die to save us. Don’t let us forget that Jesus died to save anyone who calls on His name. Could you be the piece that is missing in someone’s story?

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:13–15 (NLT)

International Weekend is a time when we are reminded that we are a SENT people: people on mission, commissioned by Jesus to bring hope to the nations, all nations.

We are living in a divided world, and it feels more divided than ever. But it is time to come together in unity as God’s people and contend for the nations.

We must remember that unity is a Gospel witness to a divided world. When we refocus on our commission from Jesus together, the world will see the Kingdom of Heaven, which brings renewal, unity, reconciliation, peace, love, and salvation.

And that is not of this world. Only Jesus can bring this Good News.

Let’s discover what it means to be on mission together. Join us for FAC International Weekend, including our International Street Fest, on Friday, October 23!