CPC 1996 Annual Report:
Missions

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Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.
Missions exists because worship does not . . .
When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces
before the throne of God, missions will be no more.
It is a temporary necessity, But worship abides forever.
- John Piper, Let The Nations Be Glad, page 11.

In the book of Revelation, John gives us a glimpse of worship in heaven, that most pure worship which will be our greatest joy for eternity. What songs do they sing? Listen to this one which praises the worthiness of Jesus Christ (Rev. 5:9):

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

And who will worship alongside us for eternity? Hear John from 7:9,10:

I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb . . . And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

As Christians, our greatest desire for the world should reflect God's greatest desire. God desires all people to know his love, to worship him, and to share that love with the world. Is this also our passion, as a church and as individuals? The missions committee exists not to do missions at Central, but to facilitate and support the missions of our church. God calls for all of us to be involved in some way in accomplishing his purposes for the world. We each need to ask, "Where do I fit?"

Our commitment must begin at the local level. Concern for the world without care for our neighbor is often an escape from the kind of involvement that Jesus modeled for us. But we cannot stop there, with a narrow focus that only encompasses local ministry. There are many peoples in the world who do not have anyone to share the love of Jesus Christ with them: no one who speaks their language or knows their culture who can proclaim the gospel. Our commitment must extend to those who have never heard, who have not had the opportunity to experience the joy and freedom that come with knowing Christ.

This dual focus is what drives our missions vision at Central. It is why we spend a week building homes in downtown Baltimore in July, and then in November spend another week working with orphans in Romania. It is why we have partnerships with local churches as well as our sister church in Sao Paulo, Brasil. It is the reason why we support evangelism in Baltimore as well as the planting of churches and the growth of the gospel among the (deleted-group-name), our adopted Unreached People Group.

How and where does God want to use you? There is a place for everyone in God's work. Have you found yours? If you are looking for new opportunities for joyful service, we would like to help. On the front lines, or behind the scenes, God wants to use all of us.