The Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands

The Church of Jesus Christ is built on the redeeming love of God. That love has the power to transform people of every culture and class into a community living together, joining hearts and hands as the household of God.

As far back as 1837, the General Assembly declared that the church’s mission is to share with all the world the love of God in Jesus Christ in word and deed. Historically, Presbyterians have preached the gospel, alleviated hunger, responded to disasters, healed the sick and educated new generations. Our international partnerships have been strong and fruitful, spreading the gospel and touching lives. Our congregations have been the cornerstones of countless communities throughout our country. Our church fostered a new nation and shaped and formed great leaders in the 20th century. Our members have been guided by the gospel in the struggle for civil rights, advancements in education and developments in science.

Jesus persistently calls his followers to the task of mission. Christ’s message resonates today as loudly as it did 2,000 years ago. God calls each of us to be a witness. We are to be led by the Spirit in the work of the gospel with our neighbors, in our community and around the world. We believe and understand Christ’s commission. However, in the past 20 years, our resources have limited our ability to ambitiously expand local and international mission. Our commitment has been strong, but we have not realized the full potential of mission opportunities.

Because we honestly recognize the gift of Christ, as the Great Commission calls us to do, we must expand our efforts in joyful celebration with our neighbors near and far. Jesus’ charge to his apostles at the end of the Gospel of Matthew is ambitious and strategic. It demands commitment and results. The PC(USA) can have no greater priority than to carry out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of our Lord, to the glory of God — this is our campaign to renew the church for mission.

Joining Hearts & Hands is a call to action. The 214th General Assembly, in 2002, voted by an overwhelming 97 percent in favor of this campaign to renew the church for mission. This action is a clear mandate for the church to take additional measures both at home and abroad to renew the PC(USA). No such initiative or proposal before the General Assembly has seen such tremendous support in recent history. The commissioners of 173 presbyteries, mission workers and pastors sent a resounding message to the whole church.

Joining Hearts & Hands is crucial. Mission is not optional for the church, it is a commandment. The scriptures do not merely suggest that we proclaim the gospel message in word and deed, the scriptures instruct us to proclaim it. Christ does not imply that we should give food to the hungry and drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger and clothe the naked or visit the sick and imprisoned, Christ directs us to do so. It is not simply a recommendation that we call others into a faithful relationship with our God, it is a mandate. The church is the instrument of God’s mission in the world. Through the church we share the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ.

Joining Hearts & Hands is a sacred mission. It is the same mission to which Jesus persistently called his disciples to implement with the assurance that, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). Christ has entrusted this mission to us. We are Christ’s voice, hands and heart in the world.