Some of Jesus’s last words to his followers just before he ascended back to the Father were these:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 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 28:18-20
When at White Oak we say that our mission is to connect people to full life in Jesus, this is what we mean. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that this is why he came. In Matthew 28 he gives us the charge to take that news to every corner of our lives, our city, and the world.
I’ve always been thankful that White Oak Christian Church has answered God’s call to multiply Kingdom impact here (in our neighborhood), near (in our city), and far (around the globe). In particular, I am thankful that God has led WOCC to be involved in Kingdom impact around the world. For years, God has been faithful and provided the funds through the generosity of WOCC to support ministry in India, East Africa, West Africa, Haiti, Myanmar, and many other locations around the world. We have partnered with individuals doing Jesus’s work on the ground in large cities, small towns, and remote villages. They are planting churches and meeting educational and medical needs. They are job-training, language-training, and training pastors for ministry. They are driving long distances, meeting in people’s homes, holding worship services in villages, and broadcasting teaching from God’s Word via shortwave radio to people who would otherwise not hear it. Thousands have come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
For many years White Oak has also partnered with the International Conference on Missions (ICOM). This annual conference invites ministry organizations from all over the USA and around the world to come together for fellowship, worship, encouragement, and equipping. Last year I had the privilege of attending the conference with a group from WOCC in Richmond, VA. I also was excited to take along my 16-year-old son. We had a great time hearing from international speakers, attending groups to learn about new and challenging ideas, and touring the hundreds of booths in the exhibit hall where organizations displayed and shared the heart of their ministry and the love for the people they served. I asked my son to tell me what he got from the experience. Here’s what he said:
The conference opened my eyes as to how many different ways there are to serve. Until I went there, I didn’t really understand how diverse the community was of Jesus followers who are serving people around world. It forced me to dig deeper into how I want to serve now and years from now.
That’s the point. God has got something new he wants to do in each of us so that he can guide our hearts to what it is that he wants to do through us. His commission for our lives hasn’t changed.
White Oak, we have the opportunity this year November 3-5 to attend ICOM in Columbus, OH. It’s just a couple hours up the road from us. I encourage you to go. I challenge you to go. Bring a friend from your life group. Bring your kids. Plan to stay for the entire event or just drive up for the afternoon. You will be changed by the experience. White Oak has paid for a registration for our entire church therefore registration is free! You simply need to go to https://theicom.org/register/attendees to register yourself and your family. Use the code unity22 for the pre-paid registration fee.
Thank you for partnering with us to accomplish the mission Jesus gave us. I can see that God is doing just that! He’s changing lives here at WOCC, in Cincinnati, and around the world. People are experiencing full life in Jesus. To him be all glory, honor, and praise!
Nathan Hinkle
Lead Pastor
White Oak Christian Church