On Mission in Transition

I played on the J.V. basketball team in high school. Yes, I was that good. During one of our first practices, our coach said, “Our offense is going to be the transition.” What he meant by that was this: when our team got a rebound and switched from playing defense to playing offense, we would use that transition as our offense. Our team would not wait until we moved the ball to the other end of the court before setting up our offense. We would play offense during the transition up the court.

I think that is a great illustration for Christian mission in an ever changing world. Our lives are constantly on the move, always changing, always in transition. Kids grow up, graduating from one grade to another. Jobs change. Friends and family move. Schedules have to be adjusted. At any given moment, we are faced with some sort of transition in life.

As we navigate those transitions, it is important we stay on mission. In the words of my old coach, “Our offense must be the transition!” If we wait to fulfill Christian mission until everything is stable, predictable and comfortable, mission may never happen.

At the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells His disciples “…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.” Jesus says this after his resurrection, but before his ascension into heaven. So, Jesus gives the great commission right in the middle of huge transition. The mission is always fulfilled in life’s transitions.

As we navigate the pastoral transition at Faith Center, remember the mission Jesus has given us all. We are all called to reach the nations with the good news about Jesus. As you do that, you will find purpose for navigating all of life’s transitions. You’ll also see how Jesus can run an offense in the midst of change!