The Mission Continues
One of the joys of belonging to God’s family is seeing that His mission never stops.
Last Sunday, Pastor A. Kikon shared with us the exciting opportunity to help accredit the Highview Baptist Theological Seminary in Nagaland, India, where young men and women are being equipped to become future pastors and church leaders. This week, a group of our brothers and sisters has traveled to Panama on a short-term mission trip, serving and sharing the love of Christ. Different places, different people, but one unchanging mission: To make Christ known!
Jesus’ final words to His disciples continue to guide the Church today:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)
While studying church history, I have come across a fascinating chapter that many believers have never heard before. Long before modern missionaries arrived in China, monks from the Church of the East traveled thousands of miles along the Silk Road and reached Chang’an (today’s Xi’an) in 635 CE. The missionary Aluopen brought the Gospel to the Tang Dynasty, where Christianity became known as **Jingjiao (景教)**—the “Luminous Religion/Teaching.”
The famous Xi’an Stele, erected in A.D. 781, tells us that these missionaries proclaimed the same foundational truths we still proclaim today: the Creator God, the Trinity, the Fall, the Messiah, the Virgin Birth, salvation through Christ, baptism, the Cross, and a transformed Christian life. What is especially remarkable is that they communicated these biblical truths using language and expressions that the Chinese people of their day could understand, while remaining faithful to the gospel. This cross-cultural, cross-language effort is never easy…
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)
The Church of the East lived out this principle over 1,300 years ago. They crossed many boundaries, left their comfort zone, learned a new language, experienced a new culture, and faithfully proclaimed Christ without compromising biblical truth. Their story reminds us that the gospel belongs to no single nation or culture—it is God’s good news for every people.
Today, God continues to call His people to that same mission. Whether through theological education in India, short-term missions in Panama, supporting missionaries around the world, or faithfully sharing Christ with our own neighbors, we are all invited to participate in His work. By the way, you can access PST’s newsletters and prayer requests under this folder. You may need a church account to view the contents.
As Romans 10:15 reminds us:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!“
This Sunday School Special Topic: **Jingjiao (景教): Christianity in Ancient Tang Dynasty China**
Discover the remarkable story of how the gospel first reached China in the seventh century, explore the famous Xi’an Stele, and learn how early Christians faithfully communicated biblical truth across cultures. It is a fascinating account of God’s global mission—and an encouraging reminder that the same mission continues today.
I hope you’ll join us!
Announcement:
Here is our weekly spolight. Other church wide announcements can be found in our weekly bulletin.
One gathering to remind you: CPCM will be gathering this coming Sunday (6/28) in Room A202 for a potluck lunch. You can sign up using the following form:
Prayer Request:
We’d be glad to pray for you. If you need prayer, you can submit your prayer request via the following link: https://www.cbcgl.org/pray/