The Joshua Project
The Joshua Project has put together a wonderful resource to help keep Christians ever-focused on the task of reaching unreached peoples with the gospel. Each day they highlight one unreached people group, tell you a bit about them, and share ways you can pray for them and participate in the mission to them. We encourage all of our church members to follow along and engage with this resource day-by-day.
Connecting the Stories
Sharing the gospel, the good news of what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross, doesn't need to be as awkward or as artificial as we often make it. Rather than marching up to someone on the street and attempting to promptly push our "four points" down their throat, it is better to see evangelism as a sort of elegant dance— an interplay between three stories: The Story, my story, and their story. This is something that we can and should be engaging in every day in one way or another with the people God has placed around us. For more on this, visit our Tell page.
P.A.C.T. - The Four Steps of a Missionary Lifestyle
Over the years, as a church we have come to identify what we call "the four steps of a missionary lifestyle." These steps are captured in the acronym P.A.C.T. (Presence, Awareness, Courage, Time). As a way of keeping them always before us, we have created P.A.C.T. bookmarks that are available for pickup at the Next Steps Table at the back of our Sanctuary each week. These bookmarks have questions (see below) to help stimulate our prayerful reflection and planning and to keep us moving outward as missionaries in the city which God has placed us. You might take out your journal and begin to consider these questions even now! For more on this, visit our Tell page.
Presence: "I'm here"
Consider those in your life who are not yet Christians—family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances. God places us where he does with a purpose (cf. Acts 17:26). He desires us to be present with those around us—as ambassadors, as a royal priesthood, as salt and light, as missionaries. Who are you already present with? Make a list. How can you pursue more meaningful presence with them and with others to whom God may be calling you?
Awareness: "I'm ready"
As you are truly present with those in your life, you’ll become aware of countless ways you can show and share the good news of Jesus with them. You’ll find that you can pray for them more intelligently, invite them more naturally (e.g. to meals, events, services), serve them more effectively, give resources to them more relevantly, and communicate the gospel with them more meaningfully. What opportunities can you identify? Dream and pray!
Courage: "I'm willing"
Here is where being on mission really starts to cost us—our time, our reputation, our money. Here is where we must lean into God for courage to actually go and do as he leads. Of the many things you could do to bring the gospel to those you are present with, what do you feel God is actually asking you to do? What are the next steps? Make a plan!
Time: "I'm not going anywhere"
A missionary’s task rarely follows a straight line. Persevere in love for those to whom God has called you. We go in circles to get somewhere!
Missions Prayer
Before Jesus ever called his disciples to go, he first called them to pray (Acts 1:4, 14; cf. Matt. 9:37-38). Therefore, on the second Sunday of every month, we set apart special time during our Sunday Service to pray for the cause of missions in our city and world. We pray for our strategic partners, our supported missionaries, current issues around the world, etc. We know that if any fruit is going to come from our labors, it will only be ultimately by his Spirit and grace.
Sunday Prayer Walks
It's good to pray within the four walls of our church. But it's even better to pray out in the community we've been called to reach! Therefore, on the fourth Sundays of every month, we meet after the service to do a "prayer walk" through the neighborhoods that surround our church building. As we go, we pray for any neighbors who are willing and look for opportunities to share the gospel with those who are open and ready to engage. Come join us!
Outreach Opportunities
In collaboration with our GO! Team, we try to schedule regular outreach opportunities for our church members to participate in. Often, these opportunities involve partnering with other ministries and non-profits (see our Firestarter page). But we are always open to new possibilities. If you have something on your heart, don't hesitate to reach out!
Seeker/Skeptic Studies
We will occasionally offer a seeker/skeptic study so those interested can take a deeper dive and learn more about Jesus and Christianity. We are also always willing to read along with any interested in engaging the Consider Jesus Next Steps Booklet.
Learning Labs
We recognize that living on mission for Jesus in our city and world is not always easy. Sometimes we get tripped up and need a little help. That's why we want to make regular training opportunities available for any who are interested. These will often be short, bite-sized "learning labs" held on Sundays after the service and will address topics such as: how to share the gospel; how to engage P.A.C.T. (the four steps of a missionary lifestyle) in your own life; how to use your personal testimony in evangelism; how to study the Bible with a pre-Christian; etc.
Short Term Mission Trips
At least once a year, we try to organize a short term mission trip to help serve and reach people for Jesus around the world. Among other things, our aim with these trips is threefold: (1) we want to see those outside of Christ come to know him; (2) we want to support and encourage those Christians who are already in the field and doing the work long term; and (3) we want to give the members of our church a greater vision of God's heart for the nations. We've done work in Nicaragua and the Philippines, and we've only just begun!
Missions Emphasis Week
We know that missions is important to God and to the church. Yet, sometimes, in the midst of our own busyness and pursuits, sadly, we lose sight of this. That is why, as a church, we try to set apart one week of the year to focus explicitly on God's heart for the nations and his calling and equipping of us to reach them for Jesus. (You can find past messages from these weeks here.)
Ever Wondered?
We have an ongoing sermon series entitled Ever Wondered? We try to preach a new sermon for this series once a year or so. On these particular Sundays, we look to tackle tough questions that those skeptical or curious about Christianity might be asking—questions like: where can I find lasting happiness?; why should I trust the Bible?; aren’t Christians all hypocrites?; don’t science and faith contradict each other?; if God is so good, why is there so much pain in the world? We strongly encourage those in our church to invite their non-Christian friends on these Sundays as the services will be especially geared for them.
Strategic Partnerships
One of the ways we promote an "every saint sent" missionary lifestyle among our members is by forging strategic partnerships with other ministries on mission in our city and around the world. Here are a few we are currently partnering with in various capacities . . .
Foster the City
Foster the City is a coalition of churches committed to providing a loving home for every child in foster care. We dream of the day when there will be a waiting list of families rather than a list of children in need of a home.
Foster the City is a coalition of churches committed to providing a loving home for every child in foster care. We dream of the day when there will be a waiting list of families rather than a list of children in need of a home.
CityTeam
CityTeam is a community united by the belief that God has called us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It’s a place where all are welcome, and where everyone from volunteers to donors and staff all play an important role in living out God’s restorative love to our neighbors in need.
CityTeam is a community united by the belief that God has called us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It’s a place where all are welcome, and where everyone from volunteers to donors and staff all play an important role in living out God’s restorative love to our neighbors in need.
Kids Club
Kids Club is an after school program in elementary schools designed to teach positive life skills to children through games, music, and Bible discussions. It is open to all students in the school. Clubs meet once a week for an hour and a half on elementary school campuses.
Kids Club is an after school program in elementary schools designed to teach positive life skills to children through games, music, and Bible discussions. It is open to all students in the school. Clubs meet once a week for an hour and a half on elementary school campuses.
International Students, Inc.
International Students, Inc. exists to share Christ’s love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others.
International Students, Inc. exists to share Christ’s love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others.
Acts 29
Acts 29 is a diverse, global family of church-planting churches characterized by theological clarity, cultural engagement, and missional innovation.
Acts 29 is a diverse, global family of church-planting churches characterized by theological clarity, cultural engagement, and missional innovation.
Arms of Love International
The mission of Arms of Love is to give abandoned and abused children in Nicaragua and the Philippines a home, a family, and a future, with the hope that they will become the leaders of tomorrow in their communities and churches.
The mission of Arms of Love is to give abandoned and abused children in Nicaragua and the Philippines a home, a family, and a future, with the hope that they will become the leaders of tomorrow in their communities and churches.
The Sihora Clinic
Friends of Sihora Clinic (FOSC) is a Partnership of Churches in the South San Francisco Bay Area that Supports a Medical Clinic in Sihora (MP), India, through Financial, Spiritual, and Organizational avenues
Friends of Sihora Clinic (FOSC) is a Partnership of Churches in the South San Francisco Bay Area that Supports a Medical Clinic in Sihora (MP), India, through Financial, Spiritual, and Organizational avenues
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Wycliffe’s vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best. They've helped people around the world translate the Bible into their own languages, and also support language development, literacy, and other spiritual and physical needs.
Wycliffe’s vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best. They've helped people around the world translate the Bible into their own languages, and also support language development, literacy, and other spiritual and physical needs.
For a more extensive outline of our core partners, potential partners, and other opportunities, check out our Firestarter page.
Meet the GO! Team
The GO! (Global Outreach) Team at Mercy Hill has a number of stated and significant purposes: (1) to help propel our church outwards with loving concern for our neighbors and the nations; (2) to help every saint lean into their calling as a sent one of God; (3) to develop in us the missionary heart and stimulate the missionary lifestyle; (4) to help us connect our everyday lives to the grander mission of God; (5) to spread a passion for ministering in the 10/40 window as well as the 408 and 9-to-5 window; (6) to help us focus and prioritize our missional energies and resources as a church; and (7) to pioneer new ground as the Lord leads!
