“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me!” – Jesus. This is one of the most important assurances Jesus leaves us with before His ascension into heaven. All authority. Authority is governance. It is the power and ability to make decisions and give orders. In this same context is the command, “Go!”
And that the “going” is not optional. We are to go “to the ends of the earth” as He rules and has authority over every last square inch of this globe. Why does God want there to be a “going” and a “send me” mentality here at Hebron? Because He is a global God and not just a local God. He has a heart for the nations. So must we. He will call people from every tribe, nation, language to worship Him—and we will be united one day with those very Christians, worshipping together!
Here at Hebron, we have held out a vision for “Worship +2” where each believer in our church family is faithfully attending and participating in Sunday morning worship. The +2 is the Christian’s ongoing discipleship in terms of (1) nurture and growth in the Word and with other believers and (2) service in and/or outside the church body. We have a long-standing history with The Blessing Board, Urban Impact, PRISM, Penn Hills service opportunities, and, more recently, The Hebron Community Center. We are also aware of how many workers and volunteers it takes to see our church function well!
Hebron also has a rich and vast engagement with global and further boundary-reaching areas of the world. I want to encourage this as we support the Hendricksons, see a team sent to Rwanda in 2024, continue to engage with PRISM and pray for missionaries in Africa and Southeast Asia. God has a heart for the nations, and serves them—so must we!
This Spring, Hebron has a unique opportunity, as Kelly and I have been called to serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators, as speakers/teachers/encouragers for a “spiritual retreat” during May 25 – June 7. We will be traveling to CAR (Central African Republic) to be present with the “in-country” missionaries for a time of biblical and theological teaching, encouragement, prayer and conversation. You are the sending body here at Hebron to bless the global Body of Christ (the missionaries) that are serving the unreached. We will be with a handful of married couples and singles who desperately need input, encouragement, time to gather in the capital city of Bangui, CAR. We serve them as they serve. You serve alongside us as we are Hebron’s representatives for the risen Christ!
We are called to think and serve and care and pray – GLOBALLY. It’s part of our calling to serve. Often, our view of God is too small. Our worldview is too small. Our understanding of what God is doing across this globe is limited. But we can’t wait to behold His work… and share it all with you, to the praise of His glory!
Thank you for praying for us. We covet your prayers for this grueling, challenging, exciting, faith-expanding trip.
