Why do many Christians, both young and old, leave their homes, jobs, comfortable lifestyles to go to other countries, preaching the gospel and spreading God’s love? The answer is simple.
TO OBEY GOD’S COMMAND
In Mark 16: 15, God commands His disciples to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” God’s greatest commandments are to love God and love each other (Matthew 22:36-40). The best expression of this love is to witness and preach the Good News.
TO SHARE GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
The Lord’s relentless love for the lost drove Him to die for us while we were still sinners. To this day, He passionately pursues the lost in order to reconcile them with Himself. If we are born of God’s Spirit, we will find that something compels us to run to the lost, reach the unsaved, because God gave us a new heart that delights to do His will. The Father’s heart is that NONE should perish. Like it is said in the second part of 2 Peter 3:9, “…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone coming to repentance.”
TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Souls are won, churches are strengthened, and pastor/missionaries are encouraged by those serving on missionary trips. Pastors and missionaries need outside assistance. They cannot do it alone! By going to serve, we partner with ministries and missionaries to accomplish more for the glory of God.
TO TRAIN AND TEACH CHRISTIANS TO REACH THE LOST
Mission trips have a way of shifting our perspectives and opening our eyes. We have a greater understanding of other countries and cultures. We become more aware of how privileged we are, and begin to appreciate what we have. After getting a glimpse of a missionary’s life, our compassion and desire to help grows. After evangelizing to people we don’t know, it becomes easier to witness to people at home. When we do God’s work and see results, it starts a fire inside that continues to grow and prompt us to serve and witness to everybody. In Acts 1:8 , it is written, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem (local community), and in all Judea (other states) and Samaria (North America) and to the ends of the earth (overseas).” Mission trips are great opportunities to train Christians, especially youth, to evangelize to everyone, and everywhere.
Center of Life Church actively supports many missionaries all over the world. Jesus tell us in Matthew 28:19 to “go and make disciples of ALL nations…” Our ultimate goal is to reach out to every country in the world. We have worked in Mexico, Haiti, Canada, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Mozambique, Tanzania, India. That includes supporting missionaries financially, participating in humanitarian aid drives, as well as sending out our own church members on missions.
JUAREZ, MEXICO
Every 6 months, a group of about twenty people travels to Mexico to preach the gospel by having services with singing, short plays and skits, sermons. They team up with local pastors to help the needy with clothing and food. A special VBS-type program is prepared for the children to enjoy. Friends are made, hearts are touched, souls are saved.
Currently, we have 3 young ladies from Center of Life who felt a call on their hearts to give God more. They are serving on a long-term mission in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
With the city’s recent history of drug violence resulting in countless broken homes and families, there is a great need for the people of Juarez to receive not only salvation, but the forgiveness, comfort and peace for their hearts that only Jesus can offer. Anna Znovets, Anastasiya Tochinskaya and Dina Chebotareva are happily serving our Lord and the people of Juarez by having a children’s ministry, preaching the gospel, sharing testimonies, humanitarian aid, supporting the local missionaries on base, and some anticipated construction projects in the future.
AFRICA
In other parts of the world, God’s love is being spread as well. Our sister Emma Znovets spent 6 months in Mozambique, Africa serving the Lord and the people of Africa, and Maria Korneychuk spent 5 months in Tanzania, Africa.
The sisters and their teams of young, passionate missionaries held evangelical services, crusades,
as well as personal ministry and hut-to-hut ministry. They visited orphanages, worked with many families, showing them the love of God firsthand, planting the seed of God’s word in each heart, praying and believing that one day those hearts will belong to Jesus.
Although both girls have returned to the United States, and only God knows what their futures may hold, but both hearts are definitely open to the possibility that their first trip to Africa is not their last.
May God lead the hearts of more young people to serve Him with all their hearts, going to places, spreading the gospel, spreading the love of God. The world definitely needs more of that.
We thank God for every opportunity He gives us to serve Him. Even with work accomplished by the selfless hearts of many faithful Christians, there is still so much left to do. Join us in expanding God’s kingdom!
- Pray for us. This is the most important way to help us in our missions. Pray for the missionaries serving in other countries. Pray that God would give them strength, and fill their hearts with peace and love so it would pour out on all the people they come in contact with. Pray that God would open doors to new countries. Pray that God would stir the hearts of many others to join in this effort.
- Contact the pastor and inquire about the next mission trip that is coming up. Even if you can’t actually travel to the other countries, much help is needed with preparing for the trips, fundraising, collecting supplies. A willing heart will always find something to help with.
- Donate. Every trip and project requires finances to be completed. We thank God for always providing us with what we need, for speaking into the hearts of His generous people to bless us. If God speaks to your heart to support us financially, you can do so here.
