“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, “The kingdom of God is near you.” Luke 10:9

 The 2011 World Mission Offering (WMO) worship materials provided by American Baptist International Ministries (IM) highlight the story of Jesus’ sending the 70 from Luke 10:1-9, 17a.  These materials include a Biblical Reflection, Sermon Outline, Children’s Sermon, Responsive Reading, Directed Prayer, Prayer of Dedication and clip art. They are available in English and Spanish on pages 3-12 in the Leader’s Guide, which is downloadable from the WMO website (www.worldmissionoffering.org), or as part of the WMO promotional package that was mailed to churches in July.  (You can request a free printed copy of the Leader’s Guide in either Spanish or English by calling Tammy at 1-800-4JUDSON.)

 The essence of the WMO 2011 theme: Live the Word > Proclaim the Word > Be Transformed, is this:

 According to the Good News record of Luke, during Jesus’ early ministry he sent out the Twelve Disciples as evangelists with two tasks. (Luke 9:1-6) One job centered on their having a preaching ministry (“proclaim the kingdom of God”). But there was another duty; they were also to have a healing ministry (“cure diseases”). Later, Jesus commissioned 70 followers. (Luke 10:1-9) He provided them with clear instructions as well. They were to “heal the sick” and say, “The kingdom of God is near you.”

 Based on this, it is apparent that the first mission work given to Christ’s followers involved two good news activities—proclamation and healing. In Jesus’ directions to the Disciples, proclamation was mentioned first (Luke 9:2); in those to the 70 it was healing (Luke 10:9). No matter what the order, Jesus made it clear that for these “first missionaries” it was not one or the other. It was both.

 Their mission work included announcing the message of the kingdom of God and bringing healing as well. Since then, Christians have separated these two by referring to preaching and other church-related activities as “spiritual,” while such healing activities as providing medical care, encouraging community development, working in peacemaking and addressing injustice have been seen as “social” or “physical.” But for the first missionaries, be they the Twelve or the 70, there was no such separation.

 That same approach to mission work—with its two parts—is held by International Ministries. It is reflected in this year’s theme for WMO.

 Jesus’ words from Luke 10:2 echo down to our time, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Your WMO gifts provide for the needs of those twenty-first century laborers who are answering Christ’s call.  In that act of presenting the WMO offering, you are responding even as those who welcomed the first missionaries. (Luke 10:8) Thank you for that response.

Thank you for your gifts to the World Mission Offering.

American Baptist International Ministries, organized in 1814, is the first Baptist Mission organization formed in North America. IM brings US and Puerto Rico churches together with global Christian partners in holistic ministries that meet human needs and help people come to Christ, grow in Christ and change their worlds with Christ.