Hope Missionary Church (HMC) in Bluffton, IN has been in existence for over 50 years and has always had a strong missions focus. In its early days, when the church was just a few hundred people, they did what they could to support 2-3 overseas missionaries. It was always an encouragement when these missionary families would return on their home assignments and share with the congregation what the Lord was doing around the world. Matthew 28:19-20 encourages Christians to go and make disciples of all nations, while Acts 1:8 talks about being a witness to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
As the church body has grown to over 1,200 people, they are now able to support 23 individuals and families as well as 5 locally supported ministries. Some of these missionaries and ministries are influencing folks for Christ here locally (Jerusalem), while others are serving the Lord elsewhere in the US (Judea and Samaria), and over half are in foreign countries (ends of the earth). It has been encouraging over the past 20 years to see the number of “home-grown” missionaries who have been sent from Hope to go and be witnesses and make disciples of Christ. They continue to give glory to God for the way He has blessed.
On Sunday, October 7th, HMC will have its annual Missions Sunday. They have invited nationally known speaker Dr. Todd Ahrend to come and challenge the congregation. Dr. Ahrend graduated from Northeastern State University, has a Masters from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the founder and international director of The Traveling Team/Mission Revolution, a national missions mobilization movement. He and his wife, Jessica, have spent two decades traveling both nationwide and abroad, speaking to thousands of people about involvement in world evangelism. Todd has exposure in over sixty countries and has lived in the Middle East. He is the author of The Abrahamic Revolution and In This Generation. Todd and Jessica have six children, having just recently adopted a child from China in August.
Todd will be speaking on the Biblical Basis of Missions in each of the AM services (8:30, 9:45, and 11:00). He will then lead three breakout sessions in the afternoon. From 1:15pm-2:00pm, he will be sharing about the History of Missions. From 2:15-3:00pm he will be sharing about the Task Remaining. Then, from 3:15-4:00pm he will talk about World Christian Habits. While Todd shares in the morning and afternoon sessions, about 10 of Hope’s supported missionaries, as well as all 5 of the locally supported ministries will be hosting tables so that people can hear more about their ministries between services.
HMC is praying that folks will be reminded of the biblical foundation for missions and continue to be encouraged to seek practical and intentional ways to be a part of the process of reaching the local community and beyond.
Hope Missionary Church is located at 429 East Dustman Rd in Bluffton IN 46714. Anyone in the area is welcome to attend. Hope’s website is: www.hope4thefamily.com
To learn more about Todd Ahrend, visit: