The Vision

Having been a Christian for 13 years, involved in a number of churches and para-church organizations, I've heard my fair share of sermons and seen people moved to tears by preaching and worship. Often I see them through my own tears.

But today was different. Today was serious. It was emotional, yes, but even more, it was real. Honest. True. Difficult. Right.

Today the call went out to the people of our church to forsake their own agendas for the sake of the gospel. What does that mean, really? It means that we see that Jesus, in His great love, died for us to reconcile us to God the Father, and we respond to His sacrifice by making His name known among people who don't know Him, no matter where or no matter what it takes, we must make Him known.

Why make Him known? Two reasons. One, He is worthy of the worship of the nations, and they can only worship Him if they know Him. Two, people everywhere are lost and in need, and we know what joy can be found in knowing and trusting Christ for a hope and a future. We have the answer to the questions.

So why was today different? What made this call matter to me so much? Many of you know that Chris and I want to move overseas and serve God. That's nothing new for us. However, a number of people finally took a deep breath, closed their eyes, and said yes. Yes to the mission, yes to the vision, yes to going somewhere and doing what Jesus did--healing the sick, feeding the poor, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.

A dear friend of mine told me today that she was saying yes. She doesn't know when or where or how, but she's in. With tears in her eyes and on her cheeks, she surrendered. And she will go. I know she will. If anything, telling me that she will go holds her accountable to the calling. I will constantly remind her of what God did in her heart and what words came out of her mouth on Jan 25, 2009 till she is in another country serving for the glory of God.

That's why today was different. The Vision of the Summit proclaimed, to plant 1000 churches in 30 years, and the call for people to go heeded, amen.