The following people were interviewed.
Ruth Allen – Development Manager with the Volunteer Development Bureau. http://www.volunteering-ni.org/jump.asp
Helen Bruce – PCI (Youth and Children section) wwww.pciyac.org, and,
Barbara Graham – leader in charge of the senior youth group (connect) held on Friday nights and a volunteer in Romania.
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Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything i have commanded you. And surely i am with you always, to the very end of the age". (Matthew 28 v.16-20)
When Jesus instructed His disciples to be His witnesses to the end of the earth he told them to begin in Jerusalem and to move out from there in ever increasing circles, to the ends of the earth (see Acts 6 v.6-8). "We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God" (John Stott), but we begin at the place where we meet together as the local church; Jesus sends us out into our own neighbourhoods.
God is attentive to our needs and so He sends. In the Old Testament He sent prophets to warn and leaders to deliver. In the New Testament He sent His Son to die for our sin and restore His creation.
Jesus told His followers, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you". When we go to people and places in need, we are expressing our Creator's nature. We are representing Heaven and our King.
Going is not complicated. Jesus painted a simple picture of what it would look like; a sent one is light...
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and out it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5 v.14-16)
"A city on a hill cannot be hidden..", but what about our village on a hill? Is Richhill a place where God's Kingdom can be seen. How should we be light in Richhill?
Collectively, each one playing their part.
We may all shine differently, but we all must shine. Whether you're a warning beacon or a reassuring night-light, you have a part to play. Light shines when you get involved in your community, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms" (1 Peter 4 v.10)
But there are no lone rangers in the Kingdom of God. We are all part of the body of Christ. We gather to encourage each other and to be sent out again, but we need a friend with us when we go.
Creatively, doing simple things well.
To be light, we need to think creatively. The issues that we need to deal with donlt exist in heaven. Darkness (such as sickness, loneliness and addiction) is of this world.
But being light does not need to be a complicated thing. Ask yourself, "What is the need and how can the need be met simply?" Sharing a meal with someone can be a very powerful way to be light, a meal was often at the centre of Jesus activity as He transformed people from stranger to guest and guest to friend.
Compassionately, getting alongside the weak & vulnerable for the long haul.
Going means that we go somewhere new, where we might not feel comfortable or knowledgeable or welcome. Jesus never failed to show compassion to the weak and vulnerable, He said he had come to seek and to save those who were lost and then He went out and found them.
It is easy to think we have the answers and to rush to fix the problems of this world with programmes and strategies. We don't know the needs of everyone we meet. We don't live in their world so we need to learn to listen. Ask people what would be of greatest benefit to them, then serve their needs. That's when people will begin to trust us.
Confidently, remembering that Jesus is with us.
It is God's intention to use us as vessels for good. It is when we feel small and weak that Jesus us able to use us. The battle belongs to our King and Saviour, "God uses men and women who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him" (Hudson Taylor).
Jesus does not promise to send us on an easy, safe or comfortable mission, but He loves us and promises to be with us, "even to the very end of the age".
Remember, sent ones are very ordinary people. We're not better, we're just there - showing up in the darkness, ready to illuminate God's Kingdom.
A group of young people who took part in an outreach programme (Xpression) in Portadown during August 2007 were also interviewed. The video shows some of the work they were involved in.
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