LET'S DO THIS! - CGM: Celebrating Global Mission Magazine

Results or Process?

Recently, I asked a pastor friend from one of our partner churches to submit an article for our Ideas From Churches segment in CGM Magazine. His reply declining my invitation to write was honest and straightforward: “I don’t know that we do anything that would be interesting to readers. I think the reality here is more the results than the process. Thanks for asking though.”

I may have caught him at a busy time, but I do hope he will write for CGM one day! Though he thinks what his church does isn’t interesting in PROCESS, the congregation he serves DOES have results that would be of interest to many church leaders! I have not often encountered this kind of tangible commitment to mission: 33% of congregational offerings go outside the walls of the church to global mission, local mission and to the regional and national church support!

Actions Matter, Results Matter

Fast-forward a couple weeks to my recent participation in the Carolinas Mission Region convocation of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). One of the speakers recounted a story from many years ago when a church leader was asked which evangelism program he thought was most effective. Was it the Kennedy evangelism program or one of the others popular at that time? His reply was classic: “All them work, but you have to actually DO them!”

The common refrain in both recent anecdotes is actions matter, results matter. Yes, the fruit and increase in God’s Kingdom are always the work of the Holy Spirit, as He “Calls, Gathers, Enlightens and Sanctifies”.

Paul’s words also are true.

At its core, Jesus’ call to the nations is a call to action, to respond to His grace and mercy, to GO and MAKE disciples of every tongue, tribe, people, and language.

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” [emphasis mine]

— Romans 10:12-15

Rev. John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Church movement in the 1970s, famously quoted a church member he met in a mainline church soon after his conversion during the early days of the Jesus movement.

When asked about praying for the sick to be healed, visiting the poor, sharing the Gospel, etc., the question was: “When do we ‘do the stuff ’?”

The church member’s reply to Wimber was, “We mainly sing about it and pray about it”!

A Call to Action: Let’s Do This!

CGM exists to celebrate global mission! CGM also is a call to action, to meaningfully, strategically and effectively answer God’s call to the nations! As individual Christians and churches of every size we are called to do more than sing about Global Mission, read about Global Mission, and talk about Global Mission. We are called to pray about Global Mission, to organize, send, and support intentionally! The Risen Christ calls us to go, not as a burdensome task but with the joyous message that the God of the Universe has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ! He made each of us “on purpose, for a purpose.”

Perhaps you are familiar with one of the tag lines used by Home Depot, “Let’s Do This”! That’s my simple challenge to you this early summer, 2026! In answer to the Call of God, the words of Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit: “Let’s Do This!”