Missions
Written by Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
One of the most important roles of the Christian church is missions work. If you look at the example of the 1st century church, the churches who had excess would always send what they had to help the churches who were not flourishing as well as they were.
Jesus himself was in favour of worldwide missions, we are told in the later part of the book of Matthew to “Go forth and make disciples” we are also told to inform people until “the whole world hears”.
It is a no-brainer that I would be so interested in missions work. Prior to becoming a Christian, I started to attend Calvary Chapel Glasgow. Now Calvary Chapel Glasgow was Pastored by Matt Mc Goldrick, a missionary from San Diego California.
In my time there I learned more about Jesus’ love than anyone could in a million lifetimes. These people had a genuine love for Christ and a genuine love for people. It started a fire within me that eventually led to me becoming a Christian.
This also started a flame for missions work. That can be two fold. I would l0ve to go on a missions trip one day, but I will be led by God in where he wants me to be. I have a heart for both Scotland and Ireland.
I am in contact with folks from these areas and you will see that from the next few pages. These pages are just a few of the folks that I pray for on a regular basis. They are all or nearly all from Calvary Chapel and they are worldwide.
The purpose of these pages is not to show how spiritual Mac Gafraidh is. It is to try to get additional people to pray for these people by giving you an informal few words about them and their mission. Should you not know what to pray for a few things that all missionaries need are as follows:
- Sponsors – Missionaries need folks to sponsor them to live in the country where they are sent
- Health – Please pray for the health of the missionary and their family.
- Family – Please pray for the family that they would remain strong in the LORD and not be vulnerable to spiritual attack.
- Opportunities – These are not in short supply in the mission field, but pray for wisdom to make the most of the ones that are given.
- Locals – Pray that the LORD would rise up people to help locally, rise up elders in the churches that have been planted and helpers to labour in the tasks needed.
- Discouragement – Pray against discouragement that they will continue in the path that God has placed them on.
The last one may seem odd, but in the mission field there are 3 basic missions that are going on, a missionary can be involved in all three at the same time:
1) Evangelize unto salvation in the LORD
2) Discipleship into a strong Christian walk
3) Plant a church and establish a body of Christ.
Now missionaries are usually working with newer believers (but not always) and these believers need to be fed. A missions church in my experience will also have a high turnover of people. (Especially if it is a University town)
All that I would ask you to do now is pray for the people listed in the next few pages!
God bless
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
