Global Ministries, the common witness in global mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, is committed to being a partner in the transformation process of local congregations, regions and general ministries of our church. At the General Assembly in Fort Worth, Texas, we launched the Be a Global Mission Church initiative, as our offering to the Disciples 2020 Vision of transformation. The underlying premise of this renewed process is: being engaged in God's global mission can be a catalyst for growth and change in the life of any faith community.

• Has your congregation ever experienced a spiritual connection with an overseas partner or missionary by praying regularly in worship for them?
  
• Has your congregation ever witnessed the energy of a group who has just returned from an overseas mission trip?
  
• Has your congregation ever been inspired by the testimony of an itinerating missionary?
  
• Has your congregation ever had the satisfaction of helping someone on the other side of the globe meet their own needs through a contribution to an "over an above" special giving project?
  
• Has your congregation ever received a gift of ministry and presence from a faith community outside of our national boundaries?
  
• Has your congregation ever been passionate about a global issue and mobilized itself in an advocacy effort for the "least of these" in the global community?
  
• Has your congregation ever made a commitment to send out one of your own to be and share the Good News of Jesus with an international church partner?

If you are like most Disciples congregations you can probably answer "yes" to at least one of these questions. The challenge that most face is how to capture, channel and capitalize on the energy that these global mission opportunities generate for congregational transformation? The revised Be a Global Mission Church booklet attempts to provide an answer to this question by offering a five-step global mission engagement process that is centered on BEING a Global Mission Church.

In other words, what would it look like if a congregation had global mission awareness and involvement as a part of its DNA make-up. Global Ministries has identified seven "strands" of that global mission DNA and has provided ideas for involvement in this booklet to help a congregation create an action plan and Be a Global Mission Church 365 days a year.
Does your congregation have these global mission "strands" in its DNA make-up?

A Global Mission Church ...

1. PRAYS regularly for partners, missionaries and the world.
   
2. EDUCATES its members about global issues from preschool age to adult.
   
3. SEEKS JUSTICE for the "least of these" in the international community.
   
4. RECEIVES the gifts of the global church.
   
5. GIVES to the work of global mission.
   
6. SENDS its members into the world to share the Good News.
   
7. GROWS in sharing the story of God's mission with others.

This initiative also includes Disciples' regions. With a region's intentional support, its congregations will be able to go further in living out the seven "strands" of global mission DNA. This is why Global Ministries will be hosting its first Be a Global Region Immersion Trip for regional ministers to visit the Disciples Community of the Congo, Africa, to explore transformational global mission relationships. This trip will be led by Sandra Gourdet, Global Ministries Africa area executive, September 17 to 30, 2008, and Bob Shebeck, executive for Mission Interpretation and Constituency Relationships. It is specifically designed for Disciples regional ministers committed to affirming and incorporating global mission as a key component of their regional transformation strategy through the Be a Global Mission Church initiative over the next three years. During the trip, time will be spent on reflection and planning around living the seven   "strands" of global mission DNA in each region represented.

For more information and to order the Be a Global Mission Church booklet, posters and PowerPoint presentation, contact Bob Shebeck at (317) 713-2571.

Bob Shebeck is executive for Mission Interpretation and Constituency Relationships for Global Ministries.