Missions certainly is what happens in other countries and what we support as a church through our various mission offerings.  But the Bible does not teach that only a certain few are called to be missionaries.  Rather, every believer is a missionary.  Some missionaries travel to far-away countries to share the good news to people who haven’t yet heard.  But every believer is tasked with the responsibility to share the good news with the lost who are in their sphere of influence.  Kingdom mission involves seeing our community and the world through Jesus’ eyes and seeking Jesus’ Kingdom first (Matt 6:10).  In many cases, it involves finding tangible ways to meet temporal needs as a means for sharing about eternal needs.

Our strategy is modeled after Jesus’ commission in Acts 1:8.  We continue to establish strategic partnerships in four concentric circles of influence, starting in Mount Orab, then Cincinnati, nationally, and internationally.  Currently, our partnerships include the local PowerPack ministry, Goshen Community Church, Stuart & Lisa Bell in the Pacific-Northwest, and missionaries in Central Asia, South Asia, and Asia-Pacific through the IMB .  Our desire is to see every member involved in at least one of these mission opportunities.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8 (ESV)

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10 (ESV)