Designated Ministry: Missionary Outreach—June 15, 2008

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

For stories about what’s happening in the Asia Mission Field, read the June Herald “Sharing in the Field” section.

A. Disciples’ Generous Response Story: World

China—Is Anything Too Wonderful for God?

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, Is Anything Too Wonderful for God?, takes us to China, part of the Asia Mission Field. Brother Ma is Chinese. He is a member of a small ethnic group known as the Miao. He is also a Christian and sensed a call to church leadership in his youth. For several generations, he and his family have belonged to the Three-self Protestant Church (TSP), the only denomination allowed by the Chinese government. While studying at the Sichuan Seminary of the TSP Church, Ma’s father was diagnosed with cancer and died soon after. The cost of hospital care bankrupted the entire family. Brother Ma dropped out of school, and wandered from village to village with his wife, trying to earn enough money to care for the needs of their four children. A friend in his home village introduced Ma to the leaders of a microfinance project set up with the generosity of the Community of Christ in rural China.

Brother Ma and his wife borrowed about $500 (US) from the Community of Christ project to set up a small retail business selling traditional clothing and articles. Ma plans to serve as a volunteer minister after he completes his studies at the seminary. He tells his story and ends with the challenge, “Is anything too wonderful for God?” The Community of Christ extends ministry in far-flung areas of the world through your contributions to World Ministries Mission Tithes. Lives change as a result. We share Christ’s peace. Thank you for responding faithfully by sharing so very generously.—Steven L. Shields, field appointee, Asia Mission Field

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 Matthew 9:36 – 38 (NRSV), adapted, we read: When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

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.