Global Disciple Making

By Pastor Kirk Albrecht

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.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 holiday season can be especially challenging if you are dealing with the death of someone close to you. Whether it was a recent loss or one that occurred some time ago, feelings of grief can be heightened and may seem overwhelming during the holiday Grief is not an enemy or a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being human. Grief is the cost of loving someone. Matthew 28:18-20

First Free Church has a long history of supporting partners who are engaged in reaching across cultures to bring the good news of Jesus. We believe our church mission statement – First Free Church exists to guide people into becoming healthy followers of Jesus Christ – not only applies here in our community, but extends to include all people across the globe.

Yes – we are engaged in global disciple making! Our Partners in Asia have been working hard at learning their local language in order to be effective in sharing the Gospel and making disciples. They plan to return to the U.S. in April, 2023 for a family home leave.

Our Partners in southeast Asia have established a local business, and they are building contacts. Lessons in understanding the Gospel message through the entire Bible are being prepared so people can understand the Gospel in their own language.

Our Partner Amy Miller recently switched to a new agency for her work in Kodiak, Alaska which continues without interruption. In Haiti, Vision of Hope Ministries (VOHM) is persevering through some horrific conditions of social upheaval, gang violence, and political turmoil. Their churches and Christian school seek to build up believers into fruitful disciples.

Karen Zando has continued her work with Cru in training leaders around the world – much through the use of technology, but now that Covid-related travel restrictions have been lifted in most countries, she is able to meet face to face once again. Her role as a chaplain for a women’s professional soccer team in the U.S. has given her tremendous opportunities to extend love, grace, and truth to young women in desperate need of God’s redeeming work.

Disciple making internationally is also taking place in Oakland through the on-going work of our Partners at PRISM (Pittsburgh Region International Student Ministry) on the campuses of Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. Reaching internationals here while studying in the U.S. is an open door for many who come from restrictive home cultures, especially India, China, and the Muslim world.

The Gospel is the power of God to change lives. First Free Church continues to invest in Partners who share our mission and vision! Thank you all for helping us make disciples of all nations! (Matthew 28:18-20).