What is the Mission? #missionpossible
The mission for our work at Lutheran Indian Ministries is to:
proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Native American peoples, disciple Native leaders to share the Gospel with their brothers and sisters, and provide resources to assist in the healing of social sufferings while valuing Native cultures.
But before any of this is possible, we must understand what Jesus' mission was during his years on earth.
Adam Ziesemer at A Jesus Mission writes:
Who was Jesus? What was His mission on earth? And why does it matter?
The answers to these three questions are the foundation of the Christian church as we know it. Our entire belief system is based around the person of Jesus Christ, who He is and what He did for us.
According to the Bible:
WHO WAS JESUS?
He was the one and only Son of God. (John 5:18-24, John 3:16)
He IS God. (Matthew 1:23, John 10:30)
He was perfect. He never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15, 1 Peter 2:22)
WHAT WAS HIS MISSION ON EARTH?
He came to do God’s will on earth. (John 6:38)
He came to be light in a dark world. (John 8:12)
He came to become the final sacrifice needed for us to have a reconciled relationship with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Because Jesus came to save the world and give us life through Him. (John 6:35)
Because ALL have sinned and every one of us needs a Savior. (Romans 10:21-26)
Jesus came to earth because of the unfathomable love of God for His creation. We fall desperately short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), and so the perfect person of Jesus came to earth to become sin for us; to take the punishment for all of mankind. As God’s own son, He took every bit of God’s wrath so that we might have access directly to God THROUGH Him. He came to give us life where we had only death.
To know Jesus and have relationship with God is incredibly simple. You must believe that He was and is the risen son of God. Then upon the confession of your sins and your need for Him, the Bible says you are saved. (Romans 10:9-13)
Once this happens, you are charged with sharing the good news! How are others to hear if nobody is telling them? (Romans 10:14-17)
This is why Lutheran Indian Ministries exists. Jesus completed his mission on earth, now we are called to follow in his footsteps. Our mission is not yet complete, but we know with God all things are possible. And in the end, God will win. So we go. To equip those who have been found with the knowledge and the ability to go, and find the lost who have not yet heard the incredible news of who Jesus is and why it matters to them.
We must GO to equip the found and find the lost.