Holy Apostles Church was considering sending a group down to Honduras in support of our diocesan missionary work in 2012.  In August of 2011, Fr. Norman suggested I take the course “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement”, since I planned to go on the trip. The course was given only a few miles from my home, so I signed up—feeling that I was “doing my duty as Outreach Chair.”  I had heard about the Great Commission but I never felt the call to “go and evangelize.”  I knew Jesus commanded us to “make disciples of all nations”  (Mathew 28:19), but didn’t think there was much I  or my little church could do.

“Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” is a non-denominational course that explores God’s purpose for the world from four different perspectives: biblical, cultural, historical and strategic.  The class was taught one evening every week for a full semester.  The first night I found out it was a college course and I could audit or get credit if I did all the homework.   I was the only Episcopalian and even the music we sang at the start of each lesson was foreign to me.  But after a few classes I was hooked!  I jumped into the readings and did my homework faithfully.  I was impatient for my homework to be corrected.  I wanted to see which answer best fit the question; many were very thought provoking. Even though I was working full time, and tired at night, I thoroughly enjoyed the lecturers.  Each class was taught by a different but experienced missionary, with so much information.  I was amazed at the true life miracles happening to them.  Each reading in our textbook was written by an expert in missionary life.  Again and again I asked myself, “How come I never heard of any of this before?”  I became friends with quite a few of the students; three are now full time missionaries for ethnic people groups without a church of their own, risking their lives each day to share the gospel.

How has Perspectives affected me? Our church did send a group to Honduras; unfortunately I had to miss the trip but I did join a mission trip to Guatemala. Now our church prays for an unreached group, the Dong, weekly.  We have begun to partner with a nearby church, Our Savior in Palm Bay, for this unreached people group.  Our DOK (Daughters Of The King) did the “40 Days of Prayer for the Dong” this summer, and they pray daily for quite a few missionaries.  We even had one missionary visit and speak to our chapter.  In August, Holy Apostles hosted a Rally day to support prayer for the Dong and the China friendship trip.

I am amazed it took me so long to hear about how God is at work in the world, and understand how I can apply the Great Commission to myself personally and my parish.  I’m glad to hear the Cathedral in Orlando is hosting a Perspectives course, it is an incredible eye-opener.  We need to learn the history and understand what is happening today with the missionary movement.  Even mega cities now are in desperate need of missionaries.  This is an excellent course, learning the trials and triumphs of missionaries.  Often they feel forgotten after they have immersed themselves in another country and culture, and this can lead to failure.  WE can help, right here at home, just by prayer and a kind note.  Our missionaries deserve our support beyond the dollar.  We all need to KNOW and be A PART of The Great Commission.