May 29th 2011

In this Easter Season, as we look forward to Christ’s ascension, three points stand out; the question, the command, the promise. Last week, we thought about the question. First of all that just as the early disciples had questions at this time, so we should ask questions and seek answers. We ponder and examine the ultimate question which was asked by Jesus himself. “Do you love me”? And now in response to Jesus command “Go” we consider what this means for us. Where are we to go? To whom are we to go? What do we take to them?

In the first three Gospels and Acts, Jesus tells us to go to all nations. Does that mean us too? My mother always felt she had a call to be missionary in China. She applied several times but was always turned down on medical grounds. God directed her to other fields where she had a rich Ministry. Let us pray constantly and trust him to show us his will. That applies not to our just to our life’s careers but to the days and moments of our life. Often we find he has taken over without our even asking. It is easy to make mistakes but let us always remember where God is, love is and where love is, God is.

There have been some great missionary movements in this history of the Church starting with Paul and the early Apostles. There have been sad misadventures, the outstanding one being the Crusades. In modern times, the great missionary movement started at the end of the 1700’s and produced such people as John and Charles Wesley, Carey, Livingstone, Goforth, McClure, Bompas and Stringer to mention a few who come immediately to mind.

In the present era, the world has been made smaller by modern transportation. No longer do our missionaries have to go away for five years or more at a time although some still do.

People such as our own John and Pauline Warnica, Elizabeth and Keith Morley, Vi Walkington and our youth groups with other members of our congregation have been able to fly to Central America for a few weeks to share their skills, the gospel and their love to that part of the world. At home, in our own Parish of Trinity, we have so many opportunities for service. Look through the last pictorial directory. Let us give thanks for all the opportunities we have in our everyday life to witness for him by word or even the smallest deed. Thanks
be to God as we look forward to thinking about his promise.

Some Youth Members of
the Guatemala Mission

Church that was rebuilt by
Panama Mission Team