The Great Commission was given to us by Jesus in all four Gospels and in Acts (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46, John 20:19-21 and Acts 1:8). He knew that we would need to be reminded often of this suggestion? Option? No – command. This command from Jesus demands that we respond in obedience. Yet, 2000 years after Jesus gave this command 90% of the world population has no personal relationship to Jesus. And 75% of the population of South Carolina is unchurched. Is the problem with God’s plan or with us, God’s people? We are all called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out the Great Commission in our daily mission fields.

Here is a practical exercise for you to do: Think about your past week – where have you spent your time? Grocery store? School? Work? Golf course? Shopping? Yard work? Family? Friends? Make a list of the places you have been during the past week. Look back over the list and circle those locations where you probably crossed paths with unchurched or unreached persons. Those locations are your daily mission fields. Ask God to show you how you can be salt and light in your daily mission fields. He is already at work in lives. How can you be a part of what He is doing? As we are available to serve in our daily mission fields, He will use us to glorify Him.

Especially in times like these with the economic downturn, there are an increasing number of people who are searching for answers, who are in need of hope. We cross paths with these persons in our daily mission fields. As we hear personal stories of tough times this is an opportunity to respond with God’s love and His message of hope. Make time to listen. Offer to pray with the person that is sharing their “tough times” story.

In an effort to have proactive recession response ideas we have added a channel to our convention website that have specific ideas and stories - www.scbaptist.org/toughtimes. If you have other ideas or stories that we can add to this website please let us know. We can learn from one another as we seek to see people in our daily mission fields through God’s eyes.

May we be found faithful of obeying God’s leadership in our daily mission fields and to the ends of the earth.