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MISSIONS: Your impact on eternity


EDITOR’S NOTE: Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, adds his voice to this year’s prayer emphasis for international missions in the Southern Baptist Convention, under the theme “One Sacred Effort — Find your place in God’s story.” The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions in tandem with Cooperative Program gifts from Southern Baptist churches support approximately 4,800 international missionaries in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at imb.org/offering, where there are resources to promote the offering. For resources in Spanish, click here. This year’s goal is $175 million.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) — We are each born with a desire to leave an impact in this world. We want to know that our lives count and have meaning. As believers we know God created us for a purpose; each day He gives us here on earth is an opportunity to fulfill that purpose.

Nothing gives our lives greater meaning and purpose than having a relationship with the One who created us and bringing glory to Him. When God adopted us as His children through Christ, we also assumed some responsibilities. The Great Commission that Jesus gave in Matthew 28:18-20 is among the most important and we must each personally embrace it.

This mission gives each of us an opportunity to have a positive impact on eternity every day.

What a great thing for us to remember: The way we live our lives on this side of eternity has a great impact on the other side. That is never more true than when we point people to Christ by sharing the Gospel with them.

Each of us has a place in the Great Commission. It is a command Jesus gave to all of His followers. During His earthly ministry, Jesus’ disciples were from many different walks of life and they each had different temperaments. But none of them were excluded from the Great Commission calling and none of us are either.

Whether you are old or young, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, blue collar, white collar or no collar — if you are a follower of Christ, you have a role to play.

God calls some of us to a mission field far away to share Christ with people we’ve never met. But no matter where we live, He wants us to be on mission to those around us — our family, neighbors and friends at work or school.

In addition to that, God has entrusted each of us with resources so we can help support the mission. He has given us the privilege to give to others as they take Him to those who have never heard. Part of being a good steward of what God has given us is to share with those who are taking the Gospel to people who are yet to be reached.

So as you consider your individual role in the Great Commission, I hope you will be faithful to impact your personal mission field for Christ. I also hope you and your church will give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and help our missionaries as they advance the Gospel throughout the world. Your giving will have an impact on eternity.

    About the Author

  • Kevin Ezell