From Here to the Nations: A Commissioning of Our Own

Sending Out

We recently were able to send out one of our church members to serve overseas as a missionary. M*, whose name cannot be shared for security reasons, is moving to East Asia to be a journeyman, a two-year missionary, with the International Mission Board. There, she will engage with refugees fleeing their home country by teaching them English and of course, sharing the gospel and making disciples.

We heard from M* about what exactly she will be doing and how we can pray for her. Then, friends, families, and pastors came up, laid hands, and prayed for her. Though this may not seem significant on the surface, let us consider Acts 13, when the first missionaries were sent out. As the church at Antioch were gathering, verse 2 reads “the Holy Spirit said, ‘set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2, ESV). We are doing exactly that as a church. Missionaries are led by the Holy Spirit and are sent and supported by the church. For M*, the Holy Spirit has called her to the nations. We, as a church, are committing to send her out and supporting her along the way. We read in verse 3, “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:3). The church at Antioch had such a dependence on the Lord as they fasted and prayed for their sent out ones. We should do the same. As we were able to lay hands on M* and pray for her, we should continue to pray as we expect God to do great things in East Asia. The commissioning service served as a beautiful time of worship of what God will do amongst the nations but also a reminder that the job is not finished yet. There is still work to be done in sharing the gospel with those who have not yet heard.

What Can You Do?

• Commit to praying for M* and other missionaries that have been sent out from Rocky Creek.some text
  • Pick up one of M’s prayer cards if you haven’t already and put it in a place where you’ll see it and be reminded to pray.
  • Scan the QR code on the back of her prayer card for updated prayer requests while she is on the field.

• Give financially so that missionaries such as M* can continue going to the nations and sharing the gospel.some text
  • 50% of our missions offering goes to overseas missions with the International Mission Board to fund missionaries such as M*.
  • 25% supports national mission efforts with the North American Mission Board.
  • 25% funds scholarships to lower the cost of church members going on short-term trips.

• Go on a short-term mission trip and see what God is doing across the world.some text
  • See what trips we have set for 2025 on our website.

• Consider moving your life overseas to engage with lost people who have little to no access to the gospel.some text
  • Ask yourself: “Is the Lord calling me to move overseas to make disciples of all nations?”