For the past 10 years, our Couriers short-term missions programme would’ve been launched around this time to send our people out to the nations. Without fail, God always shows up in wondrous ways as they go – thousands are saved, healed, and blessed. Our Couriers volunteers come back rejoicing and transformed!
However, the Great Commission is not just an annual short-term missions programme. If that was our perspective and endpoint of missions, we’d have greatly failed. The Great Commission is Jesus’ final commandment to His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:16-20). Mission opportunities abound around us while we’re homemaking, working, commuting, etc, in Singapore or anywhere in the world. It’s to be our daily mission.
There’s a greater urgency for The Great Commission in the COVID-19 global pandemic. Many people locally and globally are in great need – spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Pre-believers are more open to the Gospel than ever.
Due to the economic devastation, many families lost jobs overnight and are literally starving. Churches, charities, and mission organisations in the nations are hard-pressed too, with widespread community needs, while the giving to the organisations drops.
What can missions look like in a time of border closures, physical distancing, and social responsibility? The good news is – we can still PRAY, GIVE, and GO creatively!
Here are some ideas for you to act upon on your own, as a family or a cell.
1. PRAY
“…For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isa 56:7)
Ask God for His specific prayer agenda – for nations, people groups, church/mission organisations, etc. Here are some suggested prayer pointers:
• God’s hand of mercy and healing to shorten this global pestilence.
• God’s health and protection on front-line workers.
• Government leaders to make wise, righteous decisions to help their people.
• God’s protection and provision over His people, churches, ministries, workers, mission organisations in the nations.
• A global awakening and mighty harvest of souls in the nations
2. GIVE
“Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” (Isa 58:10)
Ask God how you may be a financial blessing to the nations – families, churches, charities, ministries, mission organisations, missionaries, feeding programmes, etc. Global needs are tremendous, especially in poorer nations.
If you’d like to give to any of our Cornerstone Global Network (CGN) ministries, you may give via this link: www.cscc.org.sg/give, or write a cheque to ‘Cornerstone Community Church’, specify the ministry/nation at the back, and mail it to us.
3. GO
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom 10:15)
This is prime time for the Church to reach out to our communities, locally and globally; to show God’s love and bless them, while practising physical distancing and social responsibility.
Call up family and friends, locally and overseas. Listen, encourage, pray, and share the Gospel with them. Share your testimonies and positive content on social media. Order food, groceries or care packs for families and friends in need. Bless front-line workers, neighbours, cleaners, migrant workers, etc, with acts of kindness. Volunteer your time and relevant skillset to serve in community initiatives, front-line medical work, etc. Live out the Gospel of Christ to your household. Let’s contend for God’s salvation to come to families.
In times of adversity, our responses reveal our true mettle. Church, let’s rise to the call of The Great Commission in this urgent time, bringing the love of Christ to the ends of the earth, that we may be ‘called, chosen and found faithful’ by the Lord.
