Are You Ready To Share The Good News?
Our God calls all believers to be both locally and globally minded when advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. In response to this call, twelve members of Oakhill Baptist Church recently participated in a short-term mission trip to share the Good News of Jesus with the people of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. We departed on Thursday, May 22nd, and returned on Saturday, May 31st. The travel time for each leg of the trip to and from Brazil was approximately 26 to 32 hours.
The theme of this year’s Baptist Convention in Brazil is “Anunciemos Amor Gracioso,” which translates to “Let us announce Gracious Love” in English. The Scripture they chose to be the missional emphasis of the evangelism and outreach in the neighborhoods of Pampalona and Asa Branca was 1 John 3:16a, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us,”. Our team went with the hope that many would hear the gospel, turn away from sin, and place their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Upon our arrival at the Seminário Teológico Batista do Nordeste (Baptist Theological Seminary of the Northeast), we received a warm welcome from numerous members of the First Baptist Church of Pampalona. They greeted us with singing and enthusiasm for the upcoming week of ministry. Our team intended to bless the churches in Feira de Santana, but their heartfelt reception truly became our blessing. The anticipation and excitement for the Lord to work during this mission trip energized everyone involved throughout the entire week, fueled by the tireless effort and desire of both churches to proclaim the good news of the gospel.
On Saturday morning, we immediately began our ministry work, but not before enjoying a wonderful breakfast prepared by Mrs. Ana, the kitchen supervisor who has been with the Seminary for 45 years, along with the help of her staff. Our team, along with twenty members of the Pampalona congregation, then went out to canvass the area, sharing the gospel, distributing tracts, and inviting people to the evangelistic event that was taking place that afternoon and evening in the Asa Branca neighborhood. In just a few days, hundreds of people heard the good news from the street evangelism that occurred through the efforts of both Americans and Brazilians working together as partners in the gospel.
During our mission trip to Brazil, every member of the team had the opportunity to share their testimony and proclaim the gospel. Some mission team members engaged with parents at the outreach event at the soccer fields, while others focused on the children who attended. For two evenings, the gospel was preached at the evangelism event held under a tent, with nearly 150 people in attendance. Additionally, one night featured a teaching session on missions and discipleship at the church in Pampolona, as well as a lecture on missions and evangelism at the seminary.
This is not just a report about the mission trip to Brazil; it is also a challenge to everyone who reads this, hopefully encouraging you to be missional and intentional about proclaiming Christ wherever you are. We are already well into the summer season when kids are not in school. Consider how you and your family could even take a short-term mission trip together during your time off. Think about how you and your family can love your neighbor as yourself, open the doors of your home, and use hospitality as an inroad to the gospel. Consider this – no matter where your family might end up this summer on vacation, there are people there who have never heard the gospel. Think about how you and your family can be intentional about using your time and talent to point people to Jesus during your travels. The challenge this summer is to be intentional about how we spend time together with others and leverage this time to point those people in our spheres of influence to Jesus. At the ballfields or the beach this summer, countless people have yet to hear the gospel, and they need us to share it with them.
“And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14b-15).
God has promised that He is with us wherever we go, and so is His good news. The question for us is this: Are we prepared and looking to share this good news wherever we are?
