Commissioned

We had a commissioning ceremony today for Brandon and Heather Culp at our pastor's meeting in Júarez. Our pastors and staff came together and prayed over Brandon and Heather, as they prepare to move their lives to Guatemala to work full time for the ministry of Casas por Cristo in San Raimundo. As we laid hands on our friends, the walls of the church echoed with our prayers and praises sent up to God in two different languages.    

It was a beautiful ceremony, but more importantly a reminder of the call that has been placed on each of our lives. Every single one of us claiming to follow Christ has been commissioned to go out and preach the gospel. Although for missionaries, we often have a ceremony or are presented with a certificate when we are sent out to distant lands to follow our calling, the reality is that we have all been called and sent; we have all been commissioned.  

The definition of commission is this: "The act of granting certain powers or the authority to carry out a particular task or duty." Perhaps it adds some sort of validity to our lives and our calling when our friends and family gather around us and reassure us that we have been called to go out and serve our God, but truly, this validation is already ours. Maybe we just need to take hold of it. 

Mark 16:15 tells us, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Matthew 28:19 says, "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." 

As Brandon and Heather move to Guatemala, they remind us that we have all been commissioned. We are all called to go. We do not need a ceremony, or a certificate, we need to take hold of the calling and responsibility that has been placed on each of our lives with authority and share the gospel with others each and every day.

Where Others Refuse to Go

For over 10 years Pete Dockery has served the people of México through building homes for families living in poverty. He's transitioned from a 21 year old college student and intern, to a husband, father and current director of Casas por Cristo. For Pete, following God meant transitioning from a comfortable calling to a choice to endure through an ongoing drug war. Find out why this native Georgian has made his life's work on the US/MX border and continues to serve God in the places that so many others refuse to go.

This interview not only echoes the heart of Pete, but all of the staff of Casas por Cristo. The work is not through. The journey continues.

Dear Catalyst Attendees...

Go. Just Go.

Go out into the world and make disciples. Go dream the biggest dreams you know how. Go live abundantly and free. Go use the gifts and talents that you've been given to change everything. Just GO.

What if you went out, every one of you, and used the gifts and talents that God put within you to turn the world upside down for Christ?

What if you loved, what if you gave, what if you served everyday, with all of yourselves? What if your goal was to empty yourselves daily, completely? What if your were exhausted everyday because you had nothing left, because you poured it out into the world around you?

What if you took it seriously, that you were created on this Earth for one purpose that only you can fulfill? What if you intentionally lived your life daily as though the creator of the universe molded you for this exact day, this exact moment, for the exact people surrounding you?

Live with intention. Love until you have nothing left to give. Give all of yourselves away. Wear shoes bigger than you can fill. Take on causes that you should never be able to accomplish on your own. Walk into what is "impossible." And do it all knowing that the world needs you, we need you. 

We need you to follow your dreams and your vision and run full speed ahead beyond all of the voices that tell you you can't. We need you to dare to be great, because God created you to change everything. And when you do, when you live in the fulness of all you were created to be, you will remind all of us that we were created to do the same.

13,000 of you are sitting here becoming inspired by others that refused to let their dreams die. 

Be INSPIRED. 

Change EVERYTHING. 

GO