Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In Revelation 5:9-10, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fall down before the Lamb of God in heaven and sing,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain, and by your   blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

This passage is powerful for many reasons. We see the beauty of worship in heaven. We see the uniqueness and worthiness of Jesus the Lamb of God. And perhaps most importantly, we see the vital link between the atonement and global mission. In the atonement, God ransomed by the blood of the Lamb individual people from every tribe and language and people and nation. And now, our mission is to bring the gospel to the nations of the world so that people from every tribe and group and language have the opportunity to respond in faith to the saving work that Christ accomplished on their behalf.

But how can they respond unless we go and share? And how can we share with them unless we’re willing to go? And how will we go, unless the church encourages and empowers us to do so?

Sunday, February 4, is ACNA World Mission Sunday. It’s my hope that every DOMA congregation will engage in World Mission Sunday in some way during your morning worship. You can find many excellent resources from the Province to help you engage meaningfully in this important day. Small groups or Sunday School classes might consider using Anglican Frontier Missions’ new video teaching series called “Fulfilling the Great Commission Anglicanly.” Clergy might consider preaching on the importance of and need for mission. And it’s my hope that every member of the diocese will pray boldly for the gospel to go out to the nations/tribes/peoples of the world. But my hope is that you wouldn’t simply pray that others might go. Instead, why not intentionally seek the Lord and say to him, as Isaiah did, “Here I am Lord, send me.” In my personal spiritual journey, I have never been more blessed, nor have I experienced God’s power in greater measure than when I have gone out on mission to other parts of the world.

I’m also hopeful that all our congregations would engage in mission partnerships with churches or dioceses throughout the Anglican communion. I’m pleased that DOMA churches currently have global mission partners in 46 countries! But I’m also aware that some churches don’t have any partnerships and don’t necessarily even know how to begin.

To that end, we’ve started a Mission Mentoring Program for churches and missions interested in beginning the journey of supporting the work of missions around the world. The program will guide churches through the process of identifying a mission partner, developing a support network for the partner, and collaborating with other churches that support that same mission partner. You can find more information on this program on the diocesan website. Additionally, if you’d like help getting started, please contact the Reverend Katie Hamlin, who is our diocesan advocate for the Provincial Global Mission Initiative.

Let’s respond with courage and willingness to our Lord’s call to make disciples of all nations. As the great missionary spokesman William Carey wrote, it is always worthwhile, “to lay ourselves out with all our might in promoting the cause and kingdom of Christ.”

Blessings,

+Chris