Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission to make disciples of all the nations. Evangelism and missions are a vital part of being a Pentecostal Christian. We take a look at how going on missions helps CHC members grow closer to God.
One of the key distinguishing features of a Pentecostal Christian is his involvement in evangelism and missions. The growth of global Christianity in the 20th century has largely been attributed to the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement which includes evangelistic efforts and the sending out of disciples to all parts of the world.
As a Classical Pentecostal church, City Harvest Church embraces its position of reaching the lost. Since 1996, CHC has been actively reaching those outside the four walls of the church through its Church Without Walls initiative. The church believes that with Spirit baptism comes the supernatural empowerment for the church to live victoriously as Christ’s witnesses, and to fulfil the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). As such, the members take evangelism and missions very seriously.
At CHC’s School Of Theology, going into the missions field is part of the curriculum. Students travel to different countries and cities in teams to do home visitations, preach at church meetings and conduct evangelistic outreaches. Many of them see healing miracles and deliverance on those trips.
Missio Dei Harvest is CHC’s ministry dedicated to overseas missions. During the pre-Covid days, MDH would send out mission teams to overseas churches every week. Many of these churches were started by or are run by graduates of the City Harvest School of Theology.
In the two years of the pandemic, MDH brought their missions online and went on “virtual home visitations” with some of their partner churches. When borders reopened, MDH resumed mission trips. This year, the ministry has conducted 23 trips and have completed another 38 more by the end of this year.
Since the inception of MDH in 2012, it has conducted more than 200 trips to 45 different places, involving more than 1,000 CHC members, reaching more than 100,000 attendees.
BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST THROUGH MISSIONS
James Foo, 37, experienced God’s transformation power, not just in the mission field, but also in his personal life. He has been going on mission trips with MDH since 2017 and has seen his life turn around for the better. To him, every mission trip is an opportunity to experience God’s love and compassion for the people in the mission fields, and this leads James to love God more and know Him better.
James (in red) with the team at GBI Maron
“One of the greatest encounters that I have ever had was during my first trip with MDH in February 2017,” James shares. “When the trip leaders prayed for me, I felt that there was a divine exchange—all my burdens, past failures and shame were lifted and there was a newfound identity in Christ in me. That was the start of my transformation, both in my life and in my walk with God.”
His wife Joy bears witness to this. Before James began doing on missions, he routinely chalked up large amounts of bills because of habitual spending. This caused his wife great worry. However, when he had to start saving up to go on mission trips, James’ spending habits changed for the better.
In the first few years after James started serving in MDH, the couple faced many problems in their marriage and their financial situation. At the same time, Joy was experiencing the stress of being a new mother. However, when James started serving, she noticed that her husband was very patient and caring towards her. “I know for sure that it is because he has been experiencing God in the mission field,” she shares. “In the past, he was not so patient.” She also attributes this to the prayers of the MDH leaders and to them being good role models as godly husbands and fathers.
God started restoring their lives. James and Joy went to marriage workshops where they learned to humble themselves to listen and communicate with each other. James also put in greater effort to balance between his role as a husband and father and his mission work. The couple even started doing devotion together during Covid when James did not travel for missions. God showed them in those sessions that a married couple is meant to be one, and that gave them the strength to face every new challenge together.
Today, James and Joy have learned to support one another. They have three children now and even though James has resumed his mission trips, Joy finds that she can manage on her own without him. “When he is around, he would fulfil his responsibilities as a husband and father. He would also do his best to balance between missions and family life,” she shares.
Joy also understands now that she has a part to play in his calling. “While he is ‘fighting the battle’ on the frontline, I’ll be guarding over our home ground. We are all learning to depend on the Lord to do our part. God will surely bless us with strength and grace to do the work He has called us to.”
Recently, James led a team of mostly youths to Dampit with another team leader in MDH. “We had the privilege to experience the kabod glory of God during the final service. People were running forward during the altar call and being touched by God’s presence the moment they reached the front. Even while telling you this, I can still recall the whole scene in my mind and feel the goosebumps.”
God also ministered to James himself on the trip. “God revealed to me that He is my Father who constantly loves me no matter what. That kind of shapes the way I minister to the congregation whenever I have the chance—to always remind them of the Father’s love during ministry. When I see them touched by the love of God, I will always receive the same portion of divine love as well!”
God also revealed to James that His grace is sufficient for him in every area of his life—not only in ministry but also in his family, his finances and his career.
EVERY MISSION TRIP IS A SPIRITUAL RETREAT
To MDH volunteer Abraham Chee, every mission trip is like a spiritual retreat away from the busyness of life.
“Oftentimes, we hold on to the notion that a mission trip is all about giving of our time, finances and energy to serve others, but it is really the other way around. Like what Proverb 11:25 records, “He who waters will also be watered himself”. Serving on the mission field taught me how to lean on God even more, to hear His voice and be quick to obey. Each trip is yet another opportunity to discern what is on God’s heart for His people and partner with Him as His vessel.”
Abraham (in blue) with the mission team.
He recalled his last mission trip to Dampit before Covid where he encountered God in a deep way. God challenged him to surrender some things in his life to pursue Him. “As a leader ministered to me, I felt the fire of the Holy Spirit burning so strongly in my belly,” he remembers.
Another thing he enjoyed was partnering with God to work in people’s lives. “Not only did I witness with my own eyes the move of the Holy Spirit to bring about deep inner healing, setting free the broken-hearted and the oppressed, but I had the privilege to partner with God and be part of the process,” he says.
For Wendy Lim, going on missions made her realise how big God really is. “The many encounters I had on the mission trips shows me how much He loves every single person—He knows every person by name, and no one is insignificant in His books. The mission field is the best classroom to learn and grow in His ways,” she says.
She loves every encounter she has had in the mission field and counts it her privilege to witness the growth of local churches and their members. Being part of their journey to fulfil the vision that the Lord has given them is exciting to her and it keeps her passionate about missions.
“On every trip, God reveals more of Himself, and I am always grateful when He reveals His heart for His people,” she shares. “God becomes real and the Bible is no more just a book to read within a year, but an account of what the Lord has done and will do again and again if we believe. The answers we need are all in there. His promises will never fail.”
