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Speak the Word of God with Boldness
A new age of evangelism and
mission
We live in an age of
increasing conflicts and crises around the world
- but also a time of increasing opportunities
and new open doors for evangelism and mission.
Thousands every day flee their homes and lands
seeking peace and security. And many others who
live in lands where there is peace and freedom
are caught in a web of materialism and
distraction that closes their eyes to the
spiritual reality of two kingdoms in conflict -
the kingdom of God's light and truth and the
kingdom of darkness and deception. God's people
are called to be light bearers and ambassadors
for Jesus Christ.
Go
and make disciples
The Lord wants to equip every Christian with
spiritual power and boldness to speak his word
of truth, love, and mercy to every nation, every
people and language, every city and neighborhood
- including yours and mine. No one is exempt
from this call.
Pope Francis reminds us that every Christian is
called to be a disciple on mission.
Every Christian
is challenged, here and now, to be actively
engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who
has truly experienced God’s saving love does
not need much time or lengthy training to go
out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is
a missionary to the extent that he or she has
encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus:
we no longer say that we are “disciples” and
“missionaries”, but rather that we are always
“missionary disciples”. If we are not
convinced, let us look at those first
disciples, who, immediately after encountering
the gaze of Jesus, went forth to proclaim him
joyfully: “We have found the Messiah!” - from
The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis
Pray for boldness and
anointing
When the early
Christians were threatened with persecution,
imprisonment, and even death, they prayed for
courage and boldness - and the Lord heard
their prayer with a mighty outpouring of his
Holy Spirit.
“When
they had prayed, the place in which
they were gathered together was
shaken and they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and spoke the word
of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
May we pray boldly as
they did and obey the Lord's command to go and
make disciples of all people and nations.
Sincerely in Christ,
Don Schwager
editor
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