Renewing the World by Enriching the lives of people in our Local Community
Most of us would agree that we live in a world that is increasingly divided and cynical. People are fearful and confused. News reports scream about abusive and deceitful leadership. The trends are troubling, yet they provide the perfect environment for the Church to demonstrate the love of God and to bring the Truth of the Word as answers to the fear, cynicism, separation, and lack of leadership.
Mission ‘21 looks for ways to actively promote the love of God by meeting our community’s spiritual and physical needs along with educating people and implementing biblically-based solutions in four areas: justice for the marginalized; help for the poor and needy; defense of life and advocating a biblical model of human sexuality and marriage.
JUSTICE FOR THE MARGINALIZED
Gateway defines justice for the marginalized as the systematic, fair treatment of all people of all races. The evidence of justice is equal opportunity for all people. We defend all people’s rights to achieve their full potential in life, regardless of race, ethnicity, or the community in which they live. Our biblical mandate to fight for justice for the marginalized is found in Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Mission 21 currently promotes and defends justice by partnering with organizations that provide educational opportunities, mentoring, and healthcare for refugees and low-income individuals. Our focus areas are interdependent. When we advocate and promote for justice for the marginalized, we also help to break cycles of poverty. Psalm 82:3-4 says "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.”
CONCERN FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY
From God’s perspective, apart from Him, we are all poor and needy. God cared for us when we were poor and needy and as his ambassadors, we are likewise called to care for the poor and needy by providing for their physical and spiritual needs. “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40
Gateway endeavors to meet spiritual and physical needs by actively supporting and partnering with local organizations that provide food and clothing to those in need and by working to promote awareness and solutions for root problems and systemic issues that breed poverty. We are always looking for relation-based solutions, believing that we can best share the love of God and Hope of Jesus through personal relationships. We will all come to know the Lord better and be changed in the process of working together to address these needs.
ADVOCATING FOR LIFE IN ALL STAGES
All life comes from God and all life is valued by God. As Christ followers and spiritually influential people, we are to have God’s heart and recognize that no one individual has the right to take innocent life. We are to value life as God values it and to stand up for the unborn, for children, for adults, and the elderly. While abortion and euthanasia may be legal, they are immoral and we actively stand against them. Only the Creator of life has the right to take life.
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Because man and woman are created in the image of God, they are precious to him and they should be precious to us as Christians as well. As image bearers of God, Man and Woman have inherent worth. Jeremiah 1:5 adds, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,”
Mission 21 promotes the value of life by partnering with pregnancy centers, promoting adoption, providing care and housing for vulnerable children and the families housing them, and by educating people on the biblical view of life.
MARRIAGE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY
God created us as male and female and blessed human sexual relationships between one man and one woman within the covenant of marriage. The gender of a man or woman is the purview of God and not a choice to be made by an individual. The biblical model of marriage was first given to us in Genesis 2:24 and it was confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6. God gives us this model so that we might experience wholeness in our marriage relationships. His model is that sex is intended for pleasure between one man and one woman. Hebrews 13:4 in The Message version says, “Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.” Sexual relationships outside of God’s covenant of marriage are detrimental to all participants; however, we are called to love and help others who are in sexual relationships outside marriage to understand and embrace God’s plan so they can be all God has created them to be and enjoy a fulfilling, purpose-filled life.
Mission 21 is initially addressing this issue by increasing awareness and educating our children, students, and adults on God’s view and plan for human sexuality.
We have taught on these issues and we will be teaching further on them while looking for ways for our church to take an active involvement in pursuing them. For those of you interested in understanding these four areas in more depth, we have additional reading recommended for each area. “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” is an excellent study around concern for the poor and needy. “We Cannot Be Silent” expands on marriage between one man and one woman. “Unplanned” addresses the issue of abortion, “One Blood” and “Generous Justice” expand on social justice.