 Missions
Hope Melbourne Christian Church is a Missions-Driven Church that believes in the importance of church planting and disciple-making
Missions, or in other words, evangelism has to part of every Christian's life. It is a command of Jesus that we all engage in sharing the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again to give us the free gift of salvation so that our relationship with God can be reconciled.
Your own community, your friends, your work place, your school or university, that is your main Mission Field. You do not need to be out there in a foreign third world country to count yourself as a Missionary. We are all Missionaries where we are studying, are working and are living. There are so many people who do not know the Lord and every day we have an opportunity to introduce Jesus to these people. Don't miss any opportunity to share the love of Jesus. Every life is important and valuable to Jesus.
The Vision
In the Hope of God family, we believe in the vision God has given us. We will do everything possible to fulfill this vision which is summarized in Jesus' Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20)
We believe this commission has been given to every believer in the body of Christ. Therefore, in obedience to the Lord Jesus our vision is to plant strong and Blibical churches all over the world that will make disciples of every nation who will wholeheartedly obey everything in the Bible. Because Christ has given us this command and because He has equipped us to complete it
(Acts1:8), we believe that it is possible to see this vision fulfilled in our lifetime.
Our efforts are thus focus on reaching our nation and eventually the entire world. We want to bring the good news to every person who has not heard of the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our vision encompasses every nation, district and people group on earth.
Our vision of reaching the world is not to the exclusion of other brothers and sisters in the Lord who strive towards the same goal. We recognize that as Christians respond to Christ's call with all teir energy, time and resources, God's Kingdom will indeed come and His will de done on the earth as it is done in heaven. Therefore, we acknowledge and accept our Christian brothers and sisters throught the world in other familiues who also strive to fulfill the Christ's commission.
Another characteristic of the Hope of God family of churches is our desire to give holistic care to its members and those outside the church. IN his letter to a friend, John, the Apostles, write,: I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." Our desire is the same.
Besides building local churches, the Hope of God family has the goal of building Christian communities that will reveal Christ fully and completely. Therefore, we recognise the importance of developing social instituition, such as hospitals, schools, colleges, universities, shopping facilities, radio stations and nursing homes, which will help demonstrate Christianity as it is preached in a community setting where other people can see Christ's character revealed.
Mission 238 Urban Approach
Based on the Great Commission given by Jesus to His followers to “make disciples of all nations”, Mission 238 is the Hope of God’s church planting strategy. This strategy is adopted by the Hope Movement as a stepping stone to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) by “building strong and biblical people to plant strong and biblical churches all over the world” and includes plans to establish one seed church in every nation by the year 2008. The reason why it is “238” is because when the plan was first formulated there were 238 nations in the world. In recent years, these plans have recognized the strategic importance of cities as our world becomes increasingly urbanized. As a result, in recent years, these plans have been adapted to have an urban focus; that is the Hope Movement now has set a timetable of church planting all over the world which includes pioneering churches in all the major cities of the world.
The reason why we focus on church planting is that it is a key element in the early church’s strategy to effectively propagate the gospel. The local church is the most effective base from which disciples can be made in the region in which it is located. We seek to plan to spread the good news under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order that we can most efficiently and effectively obey Jesus. We work hard and fervently to build the church, because the Bible teaches us that this is central to God’s desire and there is an urgency as all indications are that Jesus could return soon.
 Local Missions
As part of Mission 238 and the broader goal to establish 1 million churches all over the world by the year 2015, we have set in place longer term outreach and growth plans in Melbourne. As part of these plans we desire to pioneer two new centres in Melbourne this year and we are encouraging the whole church to become involved in mission by participating in the mission trips that have been planned; the first of which is on Australia Day, 26th January 2006. In the first instance, we are planning to pioneer two new care groups in local government metropolitan regions which will form the foundation to grow and become new church centres. Once these two care groups are formed, we would then seek to support them in practical ways especially in ministry until the new work becomes securely established.
How you can get involved in Missions?
1. Support Local and International Church Planting Teams
Support for Church Planting will be an ongoing need. The base church will need to continue to function and grow and become stronger. Both the base church and the new church’s ministry must continue and prayer, financial and physical support, including training and teaching will need to increase. The whole church needs to be in unity and as a team work to establish the kingdom of God, each one fully serving the Lord using the gifts God has given and seizing the opportunities that God creates. Everyone needs to be on call all the time for whatever needs to be done, so that the body of Christ can be built up. Everyone is needed!
2. Join a Local Church Planting Team
We desire that the whole church be involved in some way in local mission outreach. However, there will be a need for a local Church Planting Team to be more regularly involved in the pioneering work. Initially, we envisage that this will occur even when some ministry in the base church continues. At some point of time, when the new work becomes established, a greater commitment to this work will be needed. You may choose be a member of this team.
3. Join an International Church Planting Team
If God has put in your heart a desire and a burden to cross cultural barriers you could become directly involved in planting churches overseas. You can join a short or long term Church Planting Team and assist or perhaps even lead or pioneer a church. In fulfilling this desire you may find that involvement in local missions will be a wonderful training ground as part of your preparation for God’s call on your life.
Goer, Sender or Mobilizer
As a Goer
God has put in your heart a desire and a burden to cross cultural barriers in order to minister the blessing of redemption in Jesus Christ. You can be in a Church Planting Team and/or Short Term Missions Team.
As a Sender
You find fulfillment in obedience to God as you stay on the home front, exercising the gifts in ministries that strengthen the church for its task of global church planting. You function in the base for launching the Church's global missions. You can be directly involved in areas of moral
support, prayer support, communication support, researcher, financial support and re-entry support.
As a Mobiliser
You have the passion and drive to encourage and exhort other believers to fulfill their strategic roles in God's global plan of world evangelization.
 Read Testimony by Pastor David Chen >> Ghana & Ethiopia Trip Testimonies
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