Mission Moment—Named and Sent
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ ministry is thrilling. We read story after
story of amazing transformations. A leper’s sores disappear! A paralyzed
man walks! A girl rises from her death bed! A mute person gains voice!
These astonishing encounters are accented with stories of spiritual healing.
People heard a marvelous word of hope in Jesus’ simple invitation,
“Follow me.” Crowds formed in town after town to hear Jesus teach
about a new way to live. Seeing the people’s eagerness, he empowered
his disciples to extend this ministry.
Healing and telling, telling and healing... the heart of ministry is the
same today as it was then. People still experience spiritual and physical
pain. We still are eager for messages of hope, love and faith. In 2010,
the 53rd anniversary year of the United Church of Christ, the faithful are
still called to serve. Astonished, we receive the gift of grace to continue
the ministry of Jesus. Just as Jesus brought the disciples from the sidelines
to the forefront, so do we come together with the holy purpose of
bringing God’s healing to the world. Time and time again, people are
transformed by the power of the one great story.
In the United Church of Christ, we are bound together by covenant in the shared purpose of God’s mission.