When He calls…

Posted on Apr 14, 2017 in Prayer Requests |

My Great Commission

By Terry VanLeeuwen on April 15th, 2017

In almost every account in the Word of God, people are going and doing. From Old Testament to New, the people who knew the word of the Lord were always reaching out to share it with others. Through the acts, travels, and service of the apostles the heart of missions was born. Often when we consider missions and outreach we are met with the big “IF”. If God calls, I will respond. If God wants that for me, I will prepare myself. If God has missions in mind, then I will get involved in church outreach. But missions aren’t an if, they are a when. For over 30 years, the Lord has been revealing to Terry VanLeeuwen His heart for missions, and she has faithfully continued responding to His call. Check out her story below…

Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15-20 Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” …After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

In the New Testament, Matthew and Mark both record what we have titled, “The great commission”, Jesus has given to His disciples; telling us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” We are called, no let me rephrase that, we are commanded to GO, to other continents, or across our nation, or across the street. It is my personal belief that we are all missionaries. Wherever our sphere of influence is, we are called to share Christ. Sphere of influence is defined as “a field or area in which an individual or organization has power to affect events and developments.” As Believers, God’s children, we have the power to affect the lives of those around us for the Kingdom of God.

In addition to home out reaches, I have had the blessed privilege of going outside the USA as a missionary. Every time, I am humbled and excited as I experience God moving through His children, taking the Gospel to the lost and meeting the needs of others in love, with food, clothing, housing and other essentials of life.

It makes my heart so happy to share with you, that our congregation, at Living Hope Church in Englewood Florida, supports a good number of missionary ministries, at home and abroad. When you give to support missions you are partnering with that ministry, to bring souls into the Kingdom of God, and meeting needs. I encourage you to ask the Lord what He wants you to do in Giving and Going and to remain faithful.

Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

In Love,

Terry VanLeeuwen

Thank you for your giving.

Here are the ministries we currently support:

Back Pack Ministry/ L.A. Ainger Middle School

Church of God World Missions

Life Givers / Tom and Brenda Jones

Loaves and Fishes International / Mike and Deena Van’tHul

Loving the One / Scott and Erica Higgins

New Paradigm Foundation / David and Kathy Nelson

At LHC we want you to be apprised of all the opportunities there are to respond to the “when” not the “if” of God’s calling. If you have any questions concerning both local and global outreach opportunities please contact our church office at (941)460-8506. God has called. You need only respond.