Christian and Missionary Alliance. What comes to your mind when you hear that? One thing you might think of is the middle part…missionary. The denomination was mission-minded from the start. In fact, it was an area of controversy. CMA founder, AB Simpson was originally pastor of a large, upper class mainline denomination in the late 1800’s. His congregation protested when he had invited poor immigrants to church services. They complained that these new and prospective believers didn’t meet their upper class standards. So, Rev. Simpson left the church and began a movement that is known today as the Christian and Missionary Alliance. As is stated on the C&MA website “The Christian and Missionary Alliance is a worldwide family of Christians mobilized to fulfill the Great Commission by living out the fullness of Jesus Christ in personal experience, building His Church, and carrying His light to the darkest parts of our neighborhoods and the nations.”

Today, there are more than 2,000 Alliance churches in the United States, and approximately 18,000 fellowships in 81 countries around the world, where nearly 5 million Christians call themselves “Alliance,” united by an unquenchable passion to provide access to the gospel where no access yet exists. Some of the earlier countries have now been vacated by North American international workers since these fields are now being run by national workers who have been trained up by expat missionaries.

The Central District of the CMA which includes the eastern half of Ohio and all of West Virginia is proud to currently have 40 international worker units in over 20 countries. Some of these countries are: Uruguay, Chile, Japan, Gabon and Russia. We also have workers in areas that don’t necessarily welcome Christian influences.

The Central District also has over 100 upcoming international workers that are currently being trained to “go into all the world” over the next several years. These young people are known as the Central District 100.

Edgewood Alliance Church has been blessed to minister to people all over the world through giving to the Great Commission Fund and other missions projects, donating supplies, gifts to international workers and, of course, prayer. In fact, EAC’s 2010 GCF pledge goal was $15,000. The final amount of the funds collected was over $16,000. Our 2011 goal is again $15,000 with the pledge amount of over $19,000. We have also been supporting a child of a missionary family with birthday and Christmas gifts prayer and encouragement. We started when he was 4. Now he’s a sophomore in college.

What is really exciting is the fact that there are approximately 7 of our current youth who have felt called to fulltime ministry some as international workers.

Locally, EAC has participated in collecting goods for HomeSafe, for pregnancy centers, doing odd jobs for needy people, participating in Kings Respite, providing food through His Majesty’s Pantry and providing iPods with inspirational content for soldiers just to name a few things. We also provided a Christmas meal for 21 families and 3 gifts each for 47 children through HALO last month.

Last year, we hosted 6 international workers as guest speakers including our guests for our annual missions conference. We presented Moment for Missions each month highlighting local and international ministries. We also helped send Pastor Mike to France.

I don’t share all of this with you to puff us up. The purpose is to remind us of how we have been able to participate in the great commission that Jesus gave before He left this earth. But, there is still much to do “until the whole world hears”.

The missions team will continue to provide opportunities to learn and participate in ministries here and abroad. We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for EAC this year. If you have suggestions or ideas see one of us. If you would like to join the team see one of us.

Two other things. First, on the back of your ministry cycle insert are some missions resources. These are great places to look for more information on C&MA missions. Second, and this is coming a bit late, we have put together a short evaluation of our 2010 missions conference. We would like your input on how we can improve the conference this fall. Please take a couple of minutes to fill one out. These evaluations are available in a basket on the back table for you to complete and place back in the basket. Thanks for helping us out in this way.

The CMA ministry cycle is Win-Build-Equip-Multiply-Send. The cycle stops if any of these pieces is missing. Where does EAC fit into the cycle? Win…yes. Build…of course. Equip…you betcha. Multiply…ditto. Send…absolutely! In 2012, the missions team would like to challenge each of us to find where we fit into the cycle. You will find a copy of the CMA ministry cycle in your bulletin for you to post in your home to remind you of your part in the cycle. On it are the verses Romans 10:14-15 which say, “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 they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’” Where do you fit in?

“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 they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’”

Romans 10:14-15