World Mission Sunday

This Sunday, Anglicans across the United States will be observing World Mission Sunday. It is strategically placed in the season of Epiphany, which centers on the revelation of Jesus Christ to the nations. It proclaims Jesus not only as Israel’s Messiah, but as the Savior of the whole world. The visit of the Magi, Gentiles from afar, signals that Christ has come for every nation, tribe, and people.

During both services this Sunday we will hear from two of our own: Vinnie Rhodes, who just returned from Liberia with Three Rivers Medical Mission, and Abby Wolitzer, who recently went to Tanzania with Water Mission. These two have firsthand knowledge of what it is like to answer the call “to go to all nations”!

Did you know that St. Philip’s has a long and wonderful history of caring for others in the world? In my own time at St. Philip’s since the mid 1980s, much has happened. Long-timers may remember the Flight of Mercy in 1985, which was led by St. Philippians. It was the first flight out of the new Charleston International Airport, filled with 31 metric tons of oatmeal and hydration tablets along with five St. Philippians on mission to famine-afflicted Ethiopia.

Then there was another flight with food and supplies to Honduras after Hurricanes Mitch and Georges in 1998. Our own Gene Lesesne along with the Greene family were the primary forces behind that. Our partnerships with both Haiti and Honduras began during that time and have since reaped tremendous fruit for the Kingdom. Water Mission was also birthed during that time.

The World Missions Team today is committed to continuing our partnerships with Honduras and Haiti, but we have also added ministry in Rwanda, Uganda, and Liberia. Along with those ministries, we are intentional in our support of Anglican Frontier Missions, which seeks to bring the gospel to the unreached peoples of the world, as well as ministries that focus on helping those who are persecuted for their faith. We would love to have new folks join us as we seek to fulfill God’s will for St. Philip’s gospel work in the world.

We will have a table set up after the service this Sunday on the North side of the church with information about the different ministries that our church supports. Please come and be sure to take and read more about the amazing things God is doing through these ministries.  If you have questions about St. Philip’s World Missions Team, email Susan Keller at susanckeller55@gmail.com or Gerry McCord at gerrymccord@gmail.com.