OUR MISSION
Matthew 4:19
The Matthew Imperative
The express specifics of our mission are clearly stated in Matthew 28:19-20 where Jesus instructs His first century followers to go and make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey everything He has commanded. The mission, like the Savior, is unchanged by the passage of time.
Being Disciples
"Disciple" is a strange word in our post-Christian age. We live in a nation where people are less inclined to see themselves as followers, but rather as self-determined individuals who make their own way and do their own thing.
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The reality is that we are all followers in one way or another. We follow our parents' example or what our friends or colleagues are doing. We take our cues from the world of advertising, politics, or entertainment. We follow the advise of self-help or self-improvement gurus. We may even seek to emulate someone we admire in academia, athletics, or history. The list of influences from which we take our lead is long.
The Bible tells us that outside of Christ, no matter who or what we follow, we find ourselves enslaved to sin and that, in essence, all "leading" influences fall within one of only two categories, good or evil. Bitter conflict arises when we define good and evil according to our own subjective opinions rather than by the Law of God. Herein lies the clash between secular culture and biblical Christianity. We are living in times described by the Scriptures (Isaiah 5:20, John 3:19, 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 2 Timothy 4:3) where the world has "flipped the script", calling what is good, evil, and what is evil, good. It is a world in which demonstrating the love of Christ while practicing fidelity to the truth of God's Word is difficult, as it incites increasing hostility and opposition from people who do not know God. Yet, we are encouraged by the example of Christ, the great lover of humanity (Romans 5:8-10), who faced and endured even greater opposition from the same (John 15:18-25, John 7:7).
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How then shall we live? Our aim at FELLOWSHIP CORONA, through the presentation and study of God's Word, is to strengthen and challenge one another as believers to “count the costs” and live as wholly committed, Spirit-filled followers of Christ who, together, fix our focus on loving the Lord our God with all we are and loving our neighbors as we do ourselves (Luke 10:27, 14:27-28). Why? Because this is the command of Jesus and because we recognize, like the disciples of the first century, that He is everything He claims to be. His are the words and ways that lead to life, now and for eternity (Matthew 16:13-17, John 6:67-68, 10:9-10; 10:30, 14:6-10).​
Additionally, we aim to equip and encourage one another to boldly, confidently, and compassionately (remembering our own formerly hopeless state; Romans 3:23) share the Gospel in word and deed with a lost and troubled world; that the transforming power and work of the Spirit would save souls and radically change lives in accordance with the will of God and with his love for all people.
Making Disciples of All Nations
While we are committed to participating in the work of global missions, we leverage and appreciate the fact that the global mission field is right here in America. Ours is a nation of different nationalities, languages, cultures, and people groups. A large part of living what it means to love God is reaching out to, loving, and sharing the Gospel with these, our neighbors, who live among us. Since the Bible is clear that God’s kingdom consists of diverse peoples (Genesis 18:18-19; Revelation 7:9), it is our intention and earnest desire to reflect this truth at FELLOWSHIP CORONA; making disciples of all who are willing to give their lives to Christ Jesus as the Spirit of God enables.
Why Do We Baptize?
Baptism is not to be taken lightly. Those who have decided to commit their lives to Christ are baptized for several reasons. First, baptism is a clear command of Jesus. Secondly, Jesus set the example and was himself baptized. Also, baptism is a formal way for believers to publicly proclaim their faith and personal commitment to Christ. Finally, baptism is a sacred ordinance that symbolically signifies a believer's death to self and the "taking on" of new life in Christ. The believer is no longer the "captain of his/her fate"; s/he is a willing servant of Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord and a willing participant in the work of His Kingdom. ​2 Corinthians 5:15
The Beauty and Benefits of Obedience to Christ
There is no love anywhere that compares to the love of Christ. Once a person begins to grasp the boundless depths of that love, following Him becomes an irresistible pursuit; one that leads to an abundant and eternal life that cannot be taken hold of by any other means. However, following Jesus requires obedience. He is THE prescription for the human failings (our sin & rebellion) that are so destructive to us and to the world He created. Therefore, how He instructs us to live and treat others is for our ultimate spiritual, emotional, physical, and eternal good. As we obey Him, we are drawn closer to Him and we experience the supernatural wonder of "walking" with Him. We enjoy more of His peace, our trust in Him is strengthened, and we gain more confidence in the surety of His promises.
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Psalm 84: 11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:38-39, John 10:27-28, John 14:21-23; 2 Peter 1:3-4
