BEING A SENDING CHURCH

Daniel and I had the privilege of visiting New Life Community Church this past Sunday. There, the worship leader for that church, Mark Boys, was sent out with much love to move to Chicago. They also prayed for and sent off a young lady from the church who had been there for six years. Pastor Mike said, "We are a sending church."

I related to his words. We have seen more than our share of "sending." And we are preparing to send more, with the Powells and the Richardsons relocating soon.

And I thought of Antioch. Antioch was a first-century "sending church." The Bible tells us that they were the first true Gentile church, a lovely mix of multiple ethnicities and many house churches throughout the city. Non-biblical sources tell us that they especially flourished among the poor and in the worst neighborhoods. They were a very successful network of house churches. And yet they sent away two of their five prophets and teachers, and they were constantly sending people away in that time of transience and persecution. That church served as a model church for churches all through Asia.

The more they "sent," the more the word was spread. And God was glorified, not just in Antioch, but throughout the world. Amen.