Webster Baptist Missions Conference
Recently Charley was asked to be the keynote speaker and give the sermon at 2 services on Sunday for a Mission Conference held by the Webster Baptist Church in here in western North Carolina. The Call - A Life of Mission was the theme of his message. He challenged all those who attended to consider what it truly means to follow Jesus into the mission field.
Two scripture verses were the foundation of the teaching which was built on over the weekend: “A new command I give to you, love one another as I loved you.” John 13:33-34 and the Great Commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt. 28:19-20. The phrase, “The Great Commission,” coined in the 18th century and later made popular by missionary, Taylor Hudson, was unpacked both in the Greek and Hebrew. In both languages, it is clear that Jesus wants us to share the Gospel and disciple “in our goings” today and everyday even to the remotest parts of the earth! Our every day life is to be a lighthouse, both at home and around the world, of living out His saving Grace and the hope found in Him through the cross. One of the key points to experiencing the sanctified life is our willingness and degree of surrendering our life just as He surrendered His. This is what is meant by the scriptures, “Take up your cross daily,” and “Just as the Father sent me, I send You.” The goal is the hungering and thirsting so much for His presence in our life that we like Paul can say, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in me”. A worthy challenge! Even though we may be far from perfected in this quest, it is the quest… “to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14.