It was the end of the final work day in the Ukrainian refugee center. I sank into an empty seat, exhausted from the mid-July Italian heat. Seemingly all in an instant, my body was feeling the effects of the four extra hours of work tagged onto our team’s original schedule. Yet at that moment, amongst all the external circumstances, internally I was overjoyed by the service that the team and I had just completed.
I was part of a medical mission team in the hub of a Ukrainian refugee community in eastern Rome. I witnessed the physical and spiritual healing of so many Ukrainians. I was so moved as I even beheld hardened hearts become softened to receive Christ and step into a new life.
I have always had a heart to serve, but my service had limits. Serving locally in homeless clinics, nursing homes, and impoverished neighborhoods was not uncommon work for me back home. I was always prepared to jump onto a team within my hometown church and serve the community. The work that I was doing was good work, but I thought that back home was where it began and ended. I was bounded by the 785.4 square miles of my hometown county.
It would not be until I relocated for college and attended a local church there that I truly was able to comprehend what made the Great Commission so great. Here, at this local church, the confines would break and transcend my hometown district, aligning with the Scriptures, to reach the nations.
The Local Church Equipped Me
At college, my faith took off due to being rooted and established in my local church. I grew out of my compartmentalized Christianity into an intimate relationship with God the Father. My understanding of Scripture and love for the Lord increased. As a result, my heart for the nations began to be cultivated. Being shepherded by a gospel-preaching lead pastor, I was so pushed forward to love God, others, and to live out the Word of God.
At college, my faith took off due to being rooted and established in my local church.
I was taught to live differently from the current culture of this world and for the Kingdom of Heaven (Ephesians 3:20). After each sermon, class, and small group, I was called higher to things above. The way I thought, spoke, and chose to engage with the world around me was transformed into a more refined and Christ-centered way.
The local church I was a part of taught me to seek after the least of those among us. From the pulpit, I was personally challenged to immediately live out the call from the sermon preached that very morning. I was led in prayer for those who are readily considered the least in society, such as the impoverished and the imprisoned. Many opportunities were provided to join one of the varying ministries offered by the church that specifically went after those far from Christ, impoverished, undereducated, and more. All that the church was offering had a central commitment to sow seeds and water them, so that the Lord could provide the growth (1 Corinthians 3:17).
Community of Missionally Committed People
Here in the local church was where I discovered a determination and commitment to those within the community of the church, but also saw a strong desire to reach the world. The same people I was sitting next to on Sundays were devoting their time and resources throughout the week to engage with international students who did not know Christ.
I was a witness to personal testimonies that were shared during church services from those who served abroad missionally, both short and long term. I was able to see church members being commissioned out into the international mission field. I was moved by hearing the sincere desire of my home group leaders who were so vehemently praying for the Lord to lead them out overseas. The dedication from the church’s missions department to assist all who shared an interest to go and reach the nations was such a sight to behold. No matter the capacity or company, my local church was missionally committed and their service to the nations was growing my heart for the nations in the same way (Acts 2:44).
Encouraged to Go
The Lord placed this desire for the nations on my heart, using the local church to enrich me all along the way. My view and heart for the global church exploded within the local church by encountering people who were breaking the confines of domestic boundaries. Elders, staff, church friends, and more were praying with and for me to help me discern this dedicated devotion to serve internationally. Members of the church would readily meet up and contact me to assist in any way possible. The Lord stirring their affection for the nations led them to do the same in me. And now, I’m a servant to all, no matter where they are, in order that I might win more of them (1 Corinthians 9:19).
Jon Coley is a member of Redeemer Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
