Each Sunday we are reminded that our vision as a local church is “to present everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28).” This doesn’t just apply to the flock here at Grace La Mirada that God has entrusted to the care of this group of elders. It also includes our understanding of how the Great Commission applies to us as a local church.
Jesus said: “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).”
Peter even implies that as the church faithfully lives out this calling, we are hastening that great Day.
“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:11–12).”
In order for the Church to complete this task, we need an army of believers who share Paul’s vision and zeal “to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named” (Romans 15:20).
The Joshua Project defines an unreached people group (UPG) as a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance. Within the UPGs, they identify a frontier people group (FPG) is a UPG with virtually no followers of Jesus and no known movements to Jesus, still needing pioneer cross-cultural workers. Joshua Project data shows 4,789 Frontier People Groups with a total population 2,050,542,000. One fourth of the world lives in these FPGs and have almost no chance of hearing about Jesus from someone in their own people group. About half the population of all FPGs live in just 36 groups, each over ten million in population.
So the task ahead is still large. But we have this promise from Jesus. “I tell you… I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).” And we are privileged to link arms with a number of families who have answered Jesus’ call to carry His name to some of these FPGs.
This Sunday Scott S, one of our Grace Partners working to make disciples and see churches planted and established in the Middle East, will be preaching to us on Carrying Jesus’ Name to the Unreached and Kenny Clark will be leading us in sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare?
Also, would you plan to come for both services? Choose from one of our breakout sessions below during one service and then join us for gathered worship during the other.
MISSIONS FAIR
Our focus this second Sunday of the conference will be on the nations. Come prepared to explore our missions fair and book table out on the patio to learn more about all that God is doing and how you might be more personally invested. And plan to spend some time taking in the Wall of the Unreached which will stretch across our patio.
SUNDAY BREAKOUT SESSIONS
At both 9am and 11am, you will have a great opportunity to meet some of our Grace Partners and learn more about what God is doing in their parts of the world. We encourage you to plan for two services each Sunday of the conference – one for the worship service and one for a breakout session of your choosing.
CREATIVE MEANS OF SHARING THE GOSPEL (9AM)
Youth Room | Lee Yadav, China Outreach Ministries & Jeremy Herrmann, Frontier
Designed especially to help youth & parents think creatively about reaching people who aren’t necessarily seeking spiritual truth.
REACHING MUSLIM WOMEN (9AM)
Room 204 | Jeanne S. serving in the Middle East
Women are precious image-bearers of God. This is not so in many Middle Eastern cultures. Come hear how the gospel makes a difference in lives of women from Muslim backgrounds.
NEXT STEPS TO CARRY JESUS’ NAME (11AM)
Youth Room | Brian O’ Herin, Arvind Balaram, Stephen Croft, Lexi Wagner
Come and hear from a panel of our Grace partners about what next steps you can take to live out your calling as an ambassador of Christ to engage and evangelize those among whom God has placed you.
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
SONG OF THE WEEK
Christus Victor by Keith and Kristyn Getty
Now to the Lamb upon the throne
Be blessing, honor, glory, power
For the battle You have won
Hallelujah! Amen!
With every tribe and every tongue
We join the anthem of the angels
In the triumph of the Son
Hallelujah! Amen!