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Connecting with
THE GREAT COMMISSION
By Clint Vernoy
world’s population and to connect by teaching,
It is such a blessing to finally start reconnecting.

baptizing, and discipling. To share the Good
During the pandemic, there were so many
News is to connect and change the
barriers to traveling, gathering,
world one person at a time. Thus,
and even talking and sharing with
if we have disconnected for a time,
new people. My wife and I were
how do we change direction and
on furlough during part of the
reconnect to our primary task as a
pandemic and we had to stay on
church? According to Colossians
furlough even though we did not
chapter 1, Jesus is the Great
want to. International travel was
Clint & Rita
Reconciler and we have been given
difficult to impossible. Visiting
Vernoy that same ministry.

churches to reconnect was extremely
difficult. Social distancing, masks, vaccines,
Mission trips change lives. On a mission trip
and symptoms became the main topics of
we lift up our eyes and see what we cannot
conversation. In Paraguay (not to mention
see—truly see—from where we always are.

Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina, among others), if
That is what Jesus did. John described the
one was caught violating the maximum number
ministry of connection that Jesus lived in the
of people to gather in a group, there was the
following way:
legal threat that a church could lose its legal
That which was from the beginning, which we
status, lose the property, and face heavy fines.

have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
In so many ways we disconnected from “our
which we have looked upon, and our hands have
neighbor” next door, let alone those people on
handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was
the mission field who needed the Gospel. We did
manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness,
try to maintain connection via all the different
and shew unto you that eternal life, which was
internet platforms, but it was very difficult—
with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
just ask any pastor, teacher, or student.

That which we have seen and heard declare we
unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with
The Great Commission has not changed since
us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father,
Christ delivered it. It was and is a command,
and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1-3).

a directive to the church to connect with the
12 Colombia 2022