“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’”
(John 20:21)

“And Jesus said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
(Matthew 28:18-20)

“In as much as you do for the least of these–you do it for me.”
(Matthew 25:40)

 

missionsThe English word ‘mission’ comes from the Latin, ‘missio,’ which means ‘sending.’ The above passages bring together the two foci of Christian missions: evangelism (sharing the Good news of God in Christ) and compassion (sharing the love of God in Christ).  Together, these are Jesus’ marching orders to His disciples, defining the task to which He has called them. These words and this task still apply to the church today — we were made for mission. Following the example of Jesus, we are called to be a community of people committed to the work of Christ in our neighbourhood, city, country and world so that others can know and experience the saving love and grace of God in Christ.

In his book, A Concise Theology, Anglican priest and theologian J. I. Packer writes;

“This appointed task is two-fold. First and fundamentally, it is the work of worldwide witness, disciple-making, and church planting (Matt. 24:14; 28:19-20; Mark 12:10; Luke 24:47-48). Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed everywhere as God incarnate, Lord and Saviour; and God’s invitation to find life through turning to Christ in repentance and faith (Matt. 22:1-10; Luke 14:16-24). Second, all Christians, and therefore every congregation, are called to practice deeds of mercy and compassion, a thoroughgoing neighbour-love that responds to all forms of human need as they present themselves (Luke 10:25-27; Romans 12:20-21). Compassion was the inward aspect of the neighbour-love that led Jesus to heal the sick and feed the hungry, and those who are new creatures in Christ must be similarly compassionate.”

Mission and outreach activities at Living Waters are overseen by the Mission Committee.  Some of these activities include:

  • Fostering relationships between the parish and missionaries working locally, nationally, and internationally.
  • Providing a link between the parish and local organizations and agencies working in the Kingston community.
  • Providing education within the parish around issues with a specific mission and outreach focus.
  • Organizing our Living Waters Community Sharing Program of monthly collections.
  • Overseeing those funds designated to the committee and providing an account of all spending/sponsorship to the Parish Council.
  • Reporting to Rector, Wardens, and Parish Council about the activities of the committee as required.
  • Providing a written report for the Annual Vestry Meeting in February detailing the committee’s activities in the previous year.LiveCalling

If you would like to get involved with this very important ministry area, please speak to one of the committee members: John Telgmann, Ross Underhill, Ann Edwards, Barb Lutz, or Pauline Bettney.