Designated Ministry: Missionary Outreach—July 20, 2008

Suggested worship service for this day.
PowerPoint presentation to support the story.

For stories about what’s happening in Apostle Ron Harmon’s East Central USA Mission Field, read the July Herald “Sharing in the Field” section.

A. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: World

Waterloo, Iowa—Hope for the Unseen

Each Sunday we are invited to “share equally” with Mission Tithes for local and world ministries. These stories are provided to keep us in touch with how your contributions to Mission Tithes are spreading the peace of Jesus Christ.

This story, Hope for the Unseen, takes us to Waterloo, Iowa, in the Cedar Valley – Nauvoo USA Mission Center. Co – pastor Rusti Sparks relates: Ours is a story of prayer, study, discernment and listening to the Spirit’s invitation. About three years ago, our fifty – member congregation found itself without leadership. The Missional Transformation Coordinator for the East Central Field invited the priesthood to begin praying and discerning God’s will for us. This discernment process led us to create a leadership team, and our journey began.

World Ministries Mission Tithes helped support world church guest ministry in our congregation. This paved the way for us to learn more about the church’s core values and heritage. Armed with a better understanding and appreciation of our values and history, we worked to elevate worship experiences with intentional focus on extending invitations to friends and community members. As we respond to a desire to gain a presence in the community and introduce people to the love of Christ, we invite others to attend activities like “Family Movie Night” and the annual Easter Egg Hunt. As our journey of discernment continues, the entire congregation engages in “dwelling in the word” scripture study before worship service. A group of our young adults meets each week at a local coffee shop for bible study.

Our testimony is that missional transformation is not an event or a program but a process that has moved us from a congregation that was mired in the status quo to one that has a passionate desire to serve the Lord in a deeper way. Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing so very generously.—Rusti Sparks, co-pastor, Waterloo, Iowa

B. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: Local

What is happening to you or in your congregation as a result of giving to local ministries through Mission Tithes? Share those experiences as part of your congregation’s Disciples’ Generous Response.

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C. Blessing on Our Offering

From Doctrine and Covenants 18:2n we read: Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of the Spirit and you shall have peace in me.

Sharing our Mission Tithes equally between local and world ministries is part of sharing the peace of Jesus Christ. Let us share in the prayer of blessing for our offering.