Our Mission

Last Sunday, we took the opportunity to really talk about WHY OpenDoors! The season that we are in as a church is that of laying foundations. So it’s only proper to talk about why we are here.

One of the truths in scripture that we keep seeing is how closely God is connected to the poor. In Matthew 25:31-46, we find Jesus equating ministry to the poor as ministry to him. This wasn’t a new teaching. Check out the following verses:

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,     and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,     but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31

Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mathew 5:3

Many of Mother’s admirers would ask her, “How can you keep serving the poor, the sick, and the dying with such vigor? What’s the secret? How do you do it?” Mother’s answer was surprising and profound. “Whenever I meet someone in need,” she said, “it’s really Jesus in his most distressing disguise.” Jesus in the child abandoned by the road. Jesus in the beggar hoping for a meal. Jesus in the leper whose limbs have turned to dust. “It’s him I help—him alone.” Mother Teresa

Like you, when I read this, I get a sense that ministry to the poor no matter what form it takes whether its the poverty-stricken, the emotionally bankrupt, the relationally broken or even the morally twisted – the poor are all around us. Poverty is not only about one’s standard of living, it’s also about one’s state of mind. We watched an insightful video, in which Brian Fikkert elucidated the state of mind behind one’s poverty. We think the poor need money, when at the root there may other issues at stake as well like – self-esteem, need for love and respect, the need to be heard. And if these aren’t fixed, all of our charity can only help but will create a co-dependent culture. So the challenge for the church while we consider how important the poor are the God, is to holistically tackle the issue of poverty.

This is why the Mission of OpenDoors is:

To Bring Wholeness to the Human Makeup.

We understand and recognize every individual no matter what their color, race, caste, gender or religion is created in God’s image. We were created to live in harmony with God, eachother, ourselves and creation. But that harmony was destroyed as a result of sin. And death and hell continue to be part of the world. We undertsand that we are called by God to partner with Him to see that harmony restored by restoring relatiosnhips. This is the bridge that I believe the Church is called to be in today’s world.

What would wholeness look like to you? Wholeness in relationship with God, yourself, the people in your world and the way you use your gifts. We see brokenness all around us. We see how idealistic minds are swayed by the intoxication of money, power and pleasure, all because selfishness at it’s root isn’t dealt with.

We can’t wait around for things to change. It’s time to get to work. “Father, let your Kingdom Come, and Your Will Be Done on earth as it is in Heaven.”