Spiritual Basis for Our Work

The spiritual basis upon which this ministry rests is often called “The Great Commission”, and it can be found in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matt 28:19-20 - 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.  NIV

In this directive from Jesus He is very explicit to His disciples in a major area of the church’s divine directives.  This is on the subject of discipleship.

While we all may have many ideas about what this subject “discipleship” may mean and involve, we can all agree on this, in the context of relevance to this ministry.  Burdens of the soul can be a big barrier to a relationship with God and others, and to becoming or maturing as a disciple.

These burdens, including troubles, anxieties, worries, cares or concerns, occupy our soul activity to the point that we cannot function effectively in life.  This malfunctioning of how we were all designed affects our ability to live an abundant and fulfilled life, it affects our ability to relate to others and to God, and it affects our ability to grow spiritually.  It robs us of our joy.

The helping of others who are experiencing “soul burdens” then involves several activities, including, but not limited to the following.  The tearing down of barriers to right relationships, the tearing down of strongholds of wrong thinking, and the exposing of debilitating sin.  It will include the standing with others who are in difficulty, or walking through their troubles with them.  It will involve the teaching of God’s word in replacing false beliefs and ungodly attitudes with those found in Scripture.

This is a ministry of applied Christianity.  By fulfilling the great commission in the lives of people who are either permanently or temporarily unable to help themselves, the servants within the ministry are glorifying God.