At Global Horizons, we partner with both local and global missions. We are honored to walk alongside pastors, teachers, men, and women who are faithfully following God’s call to serve.
It’s natural to ask: with so many needs close to home, should we narrow our focus to our own communities? We believe God’s calling on Global Horizons is broader, to serve ministry workers both here and around the world.
We walk alongside local seminary graduates and lay leaders as they find their footing and launch new ministries. At the same time, we encourage, coach, and support those called to serve in distant places. Some of our project leaders have studied in U.S. seminaries and then returned to their home countries to alleviate poverty and equip pastors with the tools to teach the gospel more effectively.
Even with the resources available in our local communities, there are people close to home going through hard times but finding comfort when someone shows them the love of Christ. We are grateful for our project leaders working in our local communities, serving people with disabilities, providing end-of-life care, and working in mobile home communities, among other vital ministries.
Projects: InControl - USA (left) and The Living Well - USA (right)
From a global perspective, of the 8.3 billion people in the world, 800 million live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3.00 per day. In those communities, small amounts of money can go a long way to cause change. One of our projects is raising funds for their medical camp. For $5.00, they provide pregnant moms with a Mama Kit: plastic sheeting, a razor, an umbilical cord clamp, gloves, soap, and a baby blanket. These tools ensure that the baby will be born in sanitary conditions. When we think about what $5.00 buys at a local store or coffee shop, it’s incomparable to giving a baby the chance of a healthy birth.
Projects: Children's Ministry Agape Farms - Zambia (left) and IFAGE - Kenya (right)
Roughly 40% of the world’s population has never heard of the gospel. How many would say yes to Jesus if they knew about His love, healing, and forgiveness? We have projects working in areas of Asia, doing just that, sharing the gospel with people who have never heard the story of Jesus. One project shared a powerful story of a man ready to throw himself onto the train tracks and end his life, but he heard worship singing coming from our partner church nearby and went in. That day saved his life.
Projects: Bethlehem Star of Peace - Thailand and Cambodia (left) and Youngsters for Christ Team - Kenya (right)
In Africa, another project has a team hosting church services in a refugee camp. God was able to use a simple donation of pots and pans to bring reconciliation between two historically conflicting tribal groups as they shared the resources. Through these ministries, churches are being planted, people are growing in faith, and biblical values are shaping lives and communities.
When we share the gospel with others in practical ways or through prayer, God uses these moments to grow our own faith as well. Whether from personal experience of a mission trip you went on or the testimony of others, people often say that they come back changed.
Stepping out in faith to pray with someone we don’t know does something in our hearts. Being willing to put ourselves in new situations or visit countries where we don’t speak the same language stretches us. As we show value and respect for another’s culture and way of life, it creates a bridge between us. We begin to see ourselves as part of something bigger, a global church.
And when we travel to places of extreme poverty, we experience a compassion that runs deep, and we gain a better understanding. God wants all of these growth opportunities for us, as part of our own journey of faith.
Project: Collaborate 4 Development Mission Uganda
Local and global outreach of faith is not new. It's rooted in Scripture and has been carried out by the church. Over the summer, Global Horizons board member Pastor Colin Miller traveled to Nigeria on a mission and revival trip. He ministered a remarkable 11 times during his two-week trip, where 150-200 people were moved to give their lives to Christ. When asked what draws him to missions, he replied that it is simple. In Acts 1:8, God calls us to go into all the world: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Pastor Miller feels we can have a heart locally and globally; it’s not one or the other. Jesus asks us to love our neighbors, and His last instruction to us was to “…go and make disciples of all nations” - Matthew 28:19.
In a reflection of his mission trip, Pastor Miller shared these 4 insights:
- Missions is about walking through open doors. God shows us the open doors, and it’s our choice whether to go.
- The harvest is always greater than we expected when people are hungry for the gospel.
- It’s a privilege to minister in different settings.
- Our call is to simply be available and willing. He will do the rest.
As these thoughts settle in, consider where God might be calling you.
Where do you see God opening doors for you?
Christmas Giving
