Acts 1:8 In Action At East Cobb UMC

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

When Jesus first called his disciples to be witnesses throughout the world in the scripture above, he shared a process that has become a model for mission work ever:

1) We are called first to be in mission and ministry to and with our “Jerusalem” --  people all around us in our own local backyard here in Marietta and eastern Cobb County.  Here at ECUMC, our own Pastor’s Food Pantry and work with Marietta M.U.S.T. are examples of this focus.

2) We are also called to be in mission and ministry to and with our “Judea” -- people a bit further away (i.e., throughout our state or geographic region), but still closer to home than “the ends of the earth.” ECUMC’s annual mission trips to Mountain T.O.P. mission project in Tennessee and other disaster relief work trips to New Orleans and other places are examples of this focus.

3) Plus, we are also called to be in mission and ministry to and with our “Samaria” -- people who are fundamentally different  than us, whether culturally, racially/ethnically, theologically, age-wise, or in some other fashion.  Our local Kenyan ministry and congregation are one example of this focus at ECUMC.

4) But finally, we are also called to be in mission and ministry “to the ends of the earth.”  Recently here at ECUMC, this focus has included international mission trips to places like Honduras and Kenya, as well as our annual “Operation Christmas Child” shoebox collection for needy children around the world.

In worship today, we celebrated one of our new “Judea” and “Samaria” mission connections:  our new partnership with and support for Mr. Gary Locklear, Church and Community Worker and Home Missioner for the United Methodist Church, serving Native Americans in the western part of North Carolina.  CLICKHERE for more information about his work. 

In the meantime, I invite you to celebrate the diversity of mission work we’re engaged in at ECUMC, and to “get in” on some of it if you’re not already.  For more information about our mission ministries, contact our mission ministry team HERE.

Remember that God loves you and I do, too!