Dynamic Disciples On A Mission For God Series

INTRO TO ELIM & ELIM MISSIONS

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Today is Elim Missions Sunday. It’s a day Elim sets apart for two main reasons:

The first is to remember the great Sacrifice of our Missionaries in the Vumba Massacre of 1978.

The second is to speak about the importance of supporting the work of Mission’s today - supporting our Missionaries both in prayer and also financially.

Mission is a response of the command Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Why are we to go? Because Jesus told us to go!

Where are we to go?

Into all nations, all the world, all our communities, to all our neighbours, to all our friends,

even into our own homes!

Who are we to share the Good News of Jesus with?

Everyone!

Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave you a quick history lesson on THE ELIM PENTECOSTAL CHURCH and it’s Missionary work.

The Elim Pentecostal Church was founded in 1915 by a Welshman in Monaghan Ireland.

George Jeffreys was an outstanding evangelist and church planter. He came from a Welsh Congregational Church background and was strongly influenced by the Welsh Revival of 1904. Our name ‘Elim’ is taken from the book of Exodus where the Israelites, exhausted from their escape from Egypt, arrived at an oasis in the desert called Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees. Exodus 15.27.

While many traditional churches and denominations were shrinking, The Elim Movement grew rapidly, it really was a place of spiritual refreshment.

So what about Missions work?

Between 1915 and 1934, George Jeffreys was involved in some amazing evangelistic missions.

This unknown preacher would commence a mission with a mere handful of people, and by the end of the week, thousands would queue for a seat.

Amazing miracles of healing were taking place. And after the missions, large churches were planted.

The Elim Movement continued to grow and today there are just over 600 churches in the UK and we Elim is active in nearly 50 countries around the world.

ELIM INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS was birthed in the spirit of evangelism and church planting.

As early as 1922, Missionaries were sent out to Africa. In 1929, The Elim Missionary Society was founded.

After the Second World War ended in 1945, missionaries went out to many countries in Africa, South America and Asia.

We are committed never to forget the sacrifice that our missionaries made in the Vumba Massacre on the 23rd June 1978.

Catherine Picken from Southend Elim Church was one of the Elim Missionaries who was killed in the Vumba Massacre.

It was a sad day but as you heard in the video, more people signed up to be missionaries following that massacre than in the previous 5 years added together.

The devil will never be able to restrict the work of God. The memory of those who gave their lives, those who were martyred for their belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, they are an inspiration for us to keep going into all the world with the Gospel.

How often do we pray for our missionaries?

Maybe not often enough.

Do you personally support any of our missionaries financially?

Without prayer and finance our missionaries would be unable to share the Gospel in the way that they do.

Our missionaries face different situations in different countries, but all of them have the same aim - to reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ.

We can be participants in the Mission Jesus has given to His Church, to go into all the world with the Gospel, the Good News, that Jesus Christ is the only way of Salvation.

Let’s take a moment to pray together for the work of Elim Missions.

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SERMON: Dynamic Disciples on a mission for God

This year our theme is Dynamic Disciples and our focus this month has been on prayer.

This morning I want us to consider together the power of prayer and praise and what it means to be a Dynamic Disciple on a mission for God

Prayer is simply speaking to God. We can pray and talk to God wherever we are.

There are many things we can pray about.

When we pray sometimes it can feel like we are just bringing a shopping list before our Lord.

We can pray for those who are unwell.

We can pray for our families, our friends.