Why Does the Church Matter?
With so many things that need attention in the world today, it begs the question: why does the Church matter? In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands us, “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.” While making disciples is an important part of what it means to follow Jesus, it was never God’s intention for us to live out this command in silos.
Monika found this out after she received Jesus as her Lord and Savior at a Children’s Bible Club! Her father was an alcoholic who abused her mother almost every night. After Monika started following Jesus, she started praying by her father’s bedside every night after he fell asleep. She cried out to God for healing and peace in her home!
She encouraged her mother to pray, too. But Monika knew they needed encouragement, so they began secretly attending a local worshipping group. If her father found out, he would have been furious. And that’s exactly what happened.
One day, Monika’s father followed them to the worshipping group with the intention of publicly beating and humiliating them. But something happened when he stepped inside the building. He said it felt like Jesus hugged the anger right out of him! From then on, Monika’s parents both received salvation and started attending worship together. The community surrounded them, counseled them, and helped them build a family based on God’s love.
This is why the Church matters! Because reaching people with the love of Christ is more than conversion; it’s discipleship. It’s encouraging one another, praying for one another, and supporting one another. That’s why our mission is to equip India’s Christians to plant reproducing churches—because the more churches that exist means more disciples that can be made. Click here to learn more about our mission!
