As Christians, one of our highest goals is to tell the entire world about Christ and His sacrifice for our sins.  The term “world” includes everything from the local community that we interact with daily to the farthest corner of a country across the globe.  Hopefully, you’re acting with purpose to introduce your family and friends to Jesus.  Now there’s a way for you to become involved with taking the Gospel to the rest of the world: Christian Life Center’s missions team, now known as His Hands Extended (or HHE).

The team was organized in 2009 when several people from our church went on a missions trip to Haiti.  One of the main forces behind planning that trip was Leslie Pennington.  Kenny and Melisa Enclade have also become heavily involved in this ministry.  Recently, I asked Leslie some questions about His Hands Extended in order for you to learn more about the team and your opportunities to get involved.

Leslie says the missions team was founded on Isaiah 6:8 which says, “And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me.”  Our missions team intends to take Christ to the Christless, hope to the hopeless, and supplies and support to the needy.  The purpose of HHE is to send out as many as will go in order to take Christ to our city, our country, and across the world.  They also want to help meet the needs of Christ’s servants already on the mission field.

Leslie originally got involved because of a video she saw about a Christian orphanage in Haiti.  She has always had a heart for loving children.  When Keith and Cindy Lashbrook, the couple who run the children’s home visited CLC one Sunday, it would take that love to the next level and change her life forever.  After church, the couple went to lunch with our Lunch after Church LifeGroup, and so did Leslie.  She found herself asking questions of the couple at lunch, and when Keith mentioned that she should come to Haiti and see for herself, the look on her face told the story: God was starting to move in her heart.

On that trip to Haiti, several people from our church traveled to the children's home.  They worked ahead of time to gather and package much needed supplies for the ministry there.  In addition to bringing those supplies with them, members of the group helped take care of the children and also do some work on the facilities to help them function better.  Everyone who went was moved by the experience.  As you may know Leslie recently adopted a little boy from that same children’s home, and so did our Pastor and his family!

What about you?  God may not be leading you to adoption, but He may be tugging at your heart. HHE is here to give you the opportunity to reach out to His world to bring His news to the lost.  You can be an extension of Christ's hands!  Anyone with a willingness to serve can be a part of HHE.  The team needs people to go on missions trips and also to provide support here at home.  For trips out of the country, you must be 18 years old.  For trips within the US, you can be 16 years of age.

If you just can’t commit to taking the trips, there’s still work to be done for fundraising and support activities.  You can help the team carry out fundraisers like the garage sale coming up on March 13.  They need people to donate items, and also to help with setup and cleanup.  They could also use help during the sale itself (from 8am to 2pm).  To get involved on any level, just talk to Leslie, Kenny, or Melisa on Sunday.

Another very powerful way you can be involved is to life the team up in prayer.  Pray that God will give the team wisdom in planning and carrying out future trips.  Also pray for their protection and that God will provide the needed funds.  If you want to help out financially, you can designate funds in your offering to go to missions.  Just write “Missions” or “HHE” on your envelope or in when you give online.  Another way to help them financially is coming on Sunday March 14, the day after the garage sale.  That’s the day of the “Pasta with a Purpose” fundraiser at Semolina Restaurant at Clearview Mall.  Be sure to pick up a flyer from church and give it to your server anytime that day.  A portion of your bill will be donated to HHE.

The next missions trip being planned by His Hands Extended will be to Mexico on November 19-26.  There’s a $150 deposit required and the deadline to signup is March 14.  As we grow in Christ, our hearts are naturally moved to serve others as Christ did.  Missions is a profound way to serve others and also to find out just how much growing that God will do in your own heart!