With the new Year just around the corner, most people are prioritizing their resolutions based on what challenges they want to conquer, what changes they plan to make, and where they would like to travel. Though these priorities can be deemed as important, OneHope would like to encourage you to think more intentionally about prioritizing living missionally in the coming year.
As you think about your plans for 2021, we pray that you will see things more clearly as you focus on ways to live on mission each day. As the verse above states, God knows you completely. He knows how He created you. He created you on purpose and with purpose. Everyone has something to contribute in Kingdom advancement. Every person who has trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can use each of their unique skills, talents, and passions to make Jesus known.
Seeking to live in a manner that requires you to think of others and their need to hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ contradicts the mindset of our consumer culture.
The world instructs us to make much of ourselves by becoming successful, by whatever standards are in place at the moment. But Christ commands His followers to make disciples.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28:19
Making disciples is not a task that happens instantaneously. Making Jesus known requires focus. When we focus on Jesus, there is little time to focus on self. This simplifies the task of making much of Jesus in our own lives and denying selfish desires in order to seek Him above everything else (Mark 8:34-35). Because we know the beauty that lies in the redemption that has been extended to us through Christ, we should desire to share this Good news with everyone we encounter, everywhere we go.
Throughout scripture we see that God prioritizes missional living. Putting the needs of others above self is a continuous theme, especially Jesus’ coming to earth to pay the debt for the sins of man. To articulate it simply: if missional living matters to God, it should matter to us.
When we focus on Jesus Christ we gain clarity of thought. He has commanded His followers to go and tell of His wondrous love and His redeeming grace. Sharing the Gospel of Christ doesn’t need to be intimidating or overcomplicated. Through conversation with others you will find common ground. Start there; then you can share the story of how you came to faith in Jesus Christ. Building relationships is essential. You may not have time to share all you hoped in one encounter. Be willing to be the one who plants the seed, and trust that the Lord will send another person to water it (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).
rather than allowing another year to come and go, having no recollection of being part of something Kingdom oriented, allow the focus of this coming year to center around how you can serve missionally.

There is really no better time like the present to start living on mission. It is easy to allow excuses to keep you from serving intentionally. But in reality, those excuses should become the very reasons you choose to serve.
Excuse: I can’t go on mission right now because my children are too young.
Reason: I serve because I want my children to learn to prioritize missions in their own lives.
Excuse: I am too old to go anywhere.
Reason: I want to lead a life of legacy. I want to serve as long as I can in order to share the Gospel with everyone I encounter.
Excuse: I can’t go on mission because I have health issues.
Reason: I can’t leave the state or country right now, but I can minister to my neighbors and make a difference in my community.
Excuse: I’m too busy to serve on mission right now.
Reason: I need to serve on mission to regain focus on what matters most because my schedule is full of tasks that aren’t Kingdom oriented.

When you behold Christ and have an understanding of what He has accomplished on your behalf, your focus shifts. Perfect 2021 focus is realized when you begin to prioritize what matters to Jesus Christ: making much of Him in our lives and proclaiming His Good news to everyone.

As 2021 draws near, choose to focus clearly on the mission Christ has set before you. Understand that you have a difference to make and He has uniquely equipped you for each task He entrusts to you. When you are tempted to make excuses for not living on mission, determine within your heart to remain focused.
The next several pages outline numerous opportunities for you to serve alongside OneHope ministry partners. Prayerfully consider how you should serve on mission in the coming year and how you can maintain 2021 focus as you seek ways to advance the Kingdom of God, both locally and globally.

Have you thought about why it is important to serve on mission? There are great answers to this question in 1 John 2:3-6:
(1) If we obey what God has told us to do, then we are sure that we know Him.
(2) When we obey God’s teaching, His love is truly working in us.
(3) If we say we live in God, we must live the way Jesus lived. Jesus is our ultimate example to follow. He is the One inviting us to join with Him in serving on mission! Do as I did: “The Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give His life to save many people.” - Matthew 20:28

Our God will equip us and train us as we step in faith and decide to serve Him:
My God will use His glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this
through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). The Holy Spirit is bringing longing hearts to Classes for Internationals. Some people that come to learn English as a Second Language have been able to join the Bible Study in Spanish, hear the Gospel, and have believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior. I believe that the Lord wanted to prepare my heart to what is going on with this particular group, and I thank Him for doing that.

For several days, as I was studying and meditating on the portion to share in our next meeting, God reminded me in Acts 10:34-36 about His plans to expand the Good News to ALL peoples: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ — He is Lord of all!’” We have seen the faithfulness of God every Tuesday night! From salvations to the answering of prayers about our different needs! We have been rejoicing in hearing different praise reports! It is like the Scripture quotes in Psalm 34:15: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.” It’s been an honor and a joy to serve in Classes for Internationals and the Bible Study in Spanish. I just can say like the psalmist wrote, “I will continue to serve the LORD in the land of the living.” - Psalm 116:9

Dinorah Nations

It is important to serve on mission because it will make an impact on people and their connection with God will grow. I helped build homes in Guatemala for people who didn’t have one. They knew we were part of a mission team and some of them directed their hearts toward God.

I also gave candy to the children there. Giving them the candy made me feel good inside since they were very happy. Spreading the joy of God’s love to people makes them have a new life in the journey of Christians.

Having a heart for God is one thing that will change your life, making it better!

Conner Loden

Serving on mission for God is important because it is ultimately every believer’s calling no matter what.
The Great Commission is clear evidence of that, and also the first command that was given to man by God which is to “be fruitful and multiply.” The Lord gave me the opportunity to serve overseas for one month in Exuma, Bahamas, to share the love of who He is with children, teenagers, and even adults. Throughout my time on the mission field, God blessed me with other great missionaries to work with. He challenged me to do things outside of my comfort zone and pushed me beyond myself so that He would be glorified in the end.
I am so thankful for that opportunity because during that time, God placed me there to serve those people. Right now, my mission field is only
an hour and a half away (from home) at Jones County Junior College. One thing I have learned from my experience overseas and in college
is that God is a good God and no matter where you are, if you are willing to serve Him, He WILL use you. He’s going to begin to stretch you to do things that are very uncomfortable, but He is so sweet to be faithful and to draw near to us in it and through it.

Heather Sullivan

Embrace1 began in the hearts of a few families at Crossgates who have adopted or fostered children.  With so many children in need, Embrace1 is a voice in our local area for helping point families toward caring for vulnerable children.

You can get involved in ways such as:

• Provide encouragement for adoptive or foster families
• Help host fun events or trainings for families who care for vulnerable children
• Serve as a mentor for a fatherless boy in our church