Apostolos
A few weeks ago I sat in a living room along with ten others that committed to travel just a couple hours west of our little rural town of Bullard to the DFW area of Euless to partner with Next Worldwide in a short mission trip. That meeting in that living room was the last part of prep work for our team as we prepared to step off on this, what some would consider a small and very minor mission trip. But for this bunch it was no small thing. We all had raised our funds and committed to pray that God would use each and every one of us although we did not really know what to expect. All we really knew is we were going to help a small church plant impact a very large apartment complex area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When we arrived at our all but luxury accommodations for the next few days things were a bit interesting. After numerous room changes due to reasons we were afraid to ask, all were settled and we headed out. It was a reminder that this was not about us but about Jesus. We headed over to the small church plant called "My Church"that was beside a bar and laundromat. The name comes from Matthew 16:8 where Jesus says on Peter's confession "I will build My Church". We met the pastor and he shared what God was doing there and explained the extremely diverse culture. After that we headed down to an apartment complex where we helped out with a cook out for the community. We went door to door inviting people to join us and I have to say I was extremely impressed at the boldness of everyone as they knocked on door after door in the heat, always with a smile and cheerful word.
After assaulting apartment after apartment with a knock and cheerful invite we went back to the smell of hotdogs and popcorn and waited for our guests to arrive. One by one many of those we invited showed up. Immediately everyone engaged our guests with conversation and an impromptu game of something like volley ball without a net or rules. It was amazing to see the unhindered interaction with everyone and the guest list was very multi-cultural. I took the opportunity to just walk around and listen to conversation after conversation and noticed the intentional talk of Gospel living.
After we packed up and loaded in the van and just prior to pulling away I asked if anyone had any interesting conversations and the response was immediately yes. There were stories of conversations with Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholic Puerto Ricans, persecuted Christian Egyptians as well as just some kids that lived in the apartments or those new to the area from New York City. It was great to hear of everyone being intentional in their conversations and just loving others.
The title of this blog is Apostolos which is the Greek word used for messenger. I thought it fitting because an Apostolos has a purpose and is intentional in his message that he is to share. His life has a purpose and that purpose is the share the message given to him. We as believers are commanded to be apostolos. As our leader Warren shared with us, the American Church has taken a command to share the Gospel and mistakenly confused it with a calling for only a select group of people. If God has called us to salvation in Jesus Christ then we are Commanded to be that messenger of that calling.
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in himof whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Roman 10:14-15
Josh Green
