5 Marks of Mission

BUILDING BRIDGES TO GOD’S FUTURE

The Church of the Messiah is a new community of Christians who are establishing an Episcopal Church for Myrtle Beach. The 21st Century offers great hope for the church to reinvent itself as a people who follow Jesus and serve him by serving their neighbors.  The Anglican Communion, a group of over 80 million Christians throughout the world, has begun to describe this way of following Jesus as the “Marks of Mission.”  Here are the five Marks of Mission we will strive to live into as we establish the Church of the Messiah.  You will see a few passages from the Bible which serve as our scriptural support for our following God in our community.

 To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom

Proclamation needs to be not only in words — effective communication of the Gospel — but also in actions, by living the Good News we preach. Exodus 3; Isaiah 61:1-3; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 9:1-6; John 13:1-17; Acts 8:25-40

To teach, baptize and nurture new believers

Christian discipleship is about lifelong learning.  We all need formal and informal resources for growing in faith, so that the Church is a learning environment for all ages. Deuteronomy  6:1-9; Nehemiah 8:1-18; Titus ch. 2; Acts 19:1-10; John 3:1-15; Luke 24:13-35

To respond to human need by loving service

Churches have a long tradition of care through pastoral and social ministry. Christians are called to respond to the needs of people locally and in the wider human community.  2 Kings 5:1-14;  Job 2:11-13; Hebrews 13:1-6; 1 Peter 5:1-7; Matthew 25:31-46;  John 4:1-30

Seek to transform unjust structures in society  

Jesus, and the Old Testament prophets before him, challenged oppressive structures in God’s name. Christians are called not only to press for change, but also to demonstrate justice within church structures.  Exodus 23:1-13; Amos 2:4-16; James 2:14-26 Matthew 23:23-36; Mark 10:13-27; Luke 19:1-10

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth

The Bible’s vision of salvation is universal in its scope. We are called to promote the well-being of the human community and its environment, so that Creation may live in harmony.  Deuteronomy 26; Psalm 65; Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 22:1-5; Matthew 6:25-31; Mark 6:30-52

Come join us as we develop our unique Marks of Mission for Myrtle Beach.