As the Advent season unfolds, churches and ministries within the World Olivet Assembly's global network of pastors and missionaries are seizing this distinguished time to expand their mission efforts. With hearts set on the message of Jesus Christ-the first missionary sent by God-our united vision is to bring the gospel to every corner of the world.
Jesus' role as the ultimate missionary is powerfully encapsulated in John 20:21: "Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'" This verse not only establishes the divine mission of Christ but also commissions us, His followers, as missionaries dispatched by Jesus Christ Himself. We are called to embody His spirit and continue His mission of salvation and reconciliation, especially during this holy season.
The weeks leading up to Christmas hold profound significance for evangelism. It is a time when hearts are more open to hearing the message of hope, love, and salvation. This sacred season commemorates the moment when Jesus Christ entered the world, not in grandeur but in humility. As Philippians 2:7-8 reminds us, "Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross."
This self-emptying act of Jesus, choosing to descend into the world He created and humbling Himself to the point of death on the cross, serves as the ultimate example for His disciples. It is a model of sacrificial love, unwavering obedience, and unrelenting commitment to the mission of God. As we follow Him, we too are called to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and carry forward His gospel to all who need to hear it.
The message we proclaim during this season may seem foolishness to some. As Paul writes, it is "foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews" (1 Corinthians 1:23). Yet to us, it is the very power of God that brings salvation. In this paradox lies the transformative beauty of the gospel: what seems like weakness is the ultimate strength, and what appears as folly is the wisdom of God.
Let this Christmas be a time when we reflect the heart of Christ and engage fervently in His mission. Let it be a time when we, as His disciples, carry the light of salvation to those living in darkness. May we boldly proclaim the gospel that Jesus has come into this world, lived a perfect life, and died for the sins of all. And may we witness the power of salvation as many turn to the Lord in faith and experience the true meaning of Christmas.