Go and Make Disciples Matthew 28:18-20 · Join the Journey

Happy New Year!

The start of a new year is a natural time to look back at what God has done and to look forward with faith to what He still wants to do through us in 2026.

On Sunday, November 17, 2019, a small group of us partnered with God to start Journey Church. God gave us a vision to begin a new work—something different than what He was already doing in Beaufort County. God was—and still is—doing a new thing.

It hasn’t been easy. Honestly, it’s been one of the hardest things we’ve ever done. But through it all, God has been on the move.

Over the past six years, we’ve seen God change lives:

• People who felt discounted by the church find belonging and connection.

• People experience freedom from addiction.

• People cared for in moments of deep hurt and loss.

• People loved through the messiness of life—because life is messy.

And yet, God has remained faithful.

Just this past year:

• In 2025, we gave $25,693 above our regular budget to benevolence and ministries, $21,000 of that to the Roanoke Christian Camp dorm project.

• About 75 people are connected in one of our 7 Life Groups.

• Our Student Ministry grew thanks in big part to Ashley Arnold and Josh Rowland stepping up to lead it.

• And today we’re excited to announce that Josh Rowland is joining our staff as part-time Student Minister, starting January 15.

• Since November 2019, 27 people have given their lives to Jesus and met Him in baptism.

Church—God alone deserves the praise.

WHO GETS THE GLORY?

Paul calls us Christ’s ambassadors and God’s co-workers. What a privilege—to work side by side with God. But we must be careful, because pride is always lurking.

Far too often, I—and maybe you—fall into the sin of making things about ourselves:

• “No one noticed what I did.”

• “No one thanked me.”

• “That sermon didn’t get much feedback.”

• “Why didn’t they say hi to me?”

When we think like that, we’ve made it about us. But Journey Church doesn’t exist for my glory or your glory. We exist for God’s glory alone.

Listen to Paul’s words:

Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20–21

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Notice the subject of these verses—it’s God.

We ask. God acts. It’s His power at work. And the glory belongs to Him alone.

So we praise God—but we also recognize this: there is still much work to do.

IF WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH GOD…

1. We Must Pray for the Lost

Paul says God does more than we ask—but first, we must ask.

Here’s the reality: About 69% of Washington and Beaufort County are far from Jesus.

That means:

• 7 out of 10 coworkers

• 7 out of 10 neighbors

• 7 out of 10 people in your family

And we can’t change that without God. So let’s start praying for the lost by name. Make a list—coworkers, family, neighbors, friends. Ask God to soften their hearts, convict them of sin, and lead them to repentance.

Illustration: The Field

Across the street from our house is a farm. For years it wasn’t tilled, and the soil became hard. A new farmer came in and spent weeks tilling, leveling, and preparing the ground. The first few years, the crops weren’t great—but slowly, over time, things began to grow.

When I look at that field, I think about our community. Washington is a great town. People are kind. But spiritually, the soil is hard. The Holy Spirit has a lot of work to do—and so do we.

We plant.

We water.

But God gives the growth.

So in 2026, let’s pray for God to till the soil of hearts in our community.

IF WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH GOD…

2. We Must Pray for God to Send Workers

In Matthew 9 Jesus looked at the crowds and had compassion on them—harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:35–38

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The harvest is plentiful—almost 70% of our community is lost.

So let’s pray boldly: “God, send workers into the field.”

IF WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH GOD…

3. We Must Say, “Send Me”

After the cross and resurrection, Jesus gave us our mission:

Matthew 28:18–20

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Church, Jesus didn’t say “wait.”

He said go.

God is sending you:

• To your family

• To your coworkers

• To your neighbors

• To your friends

Pray for workers—and realize that means you.

OUR MISSION AT JOURNEY CHURCH

Our journey is:

Helping everyone discover their relationship with Jesus, living out our walk together, and equipping each other to share the gospel with the lost.

That’s why we’ve embraced the goal: Each One Reach One.

Each of us intentionally building a relationship with one person who is far from Jesus—praying, planting seeds, sharing the gospel.

This is our mission.

This is our marching order.

We need to be HOPE DEALERS IN A HOPE-STEALING WORLD

Our world is full of hope stealers. Darkness is pressing in. Hearts are growing harder. What our families need, what our neighbors need, what our community needs—are hope dealers…

2 Corinthians 5:20–6:1

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 6:1As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

God has done the hard work. Jesus—who had no sin—became sin for us so we could be reconciled to God. Now He sends us.

6 years ago God started Journey Church. There have been ups and downs but God still has much work for us to do! The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask God to send you!

Jim Puttman said “we need to have an accurate understanding of who we are: sinners saved by grace, tools in the hands of the Master. God loves to use broken people because that is all He has to deal with and then He gets the glory. We can be used in mighty ways because of His strength and the gifts He gives us.”

A young man applied to be an usher at a movie theater. The manager asked, “What would you do if a fire broke out?” The man replied, “Oh, don’t worry about me—I’d be fine.”

That’s how many Christians respond to a lost world:

“Don’t worry about me—I’m saved.”

But you’re an usher.

You’re an ambassador.

You’re God’s co-worker.

JOIN THE JOURNEY

So who do you need to start praying for today? Make a list. Pray daily. Ask God to send workers—and ask Him to send you.

Charles Spurgeon said:

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our efforts, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

Our journey is: Helping everyone discover their relationship with Jesus, living out our walk together and equipping each other to share the gospel with the lost.

We join the journey by Connecting with each other

We build strong relationships, walking side by side through the messiness of life with prayer, accountability, and encouragement.

Growing in scripture

We grow by studying the Bible together, increasing our desire to know the inspired and inerrant Word of God and humbly obeying its truth in everyday life.

Sacrificing self

We follow the example of Jesus who sacrificed self for the needy, hurting and lost. We put our faith into action by mobilizing to help our community and world, even when called to sacrifice and suffer to care for their needs over our own.

Going Out

All of us go out to build authentic relationships with the lost in our community and around the world and to communicate the gospel of Jesus in relevant and innovative ways everyone can understand.

Pleasing God

Every day we joyfully give God the best of everything we are and everything we have. We trust that Jesus is all we need, being transformed by who He is and what He has done.

This journey will take us to reach the lost starting right here, by multiplying disciples, leaders and churches, being defined by our love and sacrifice for everyone, and by everyone we mean anyone.

Journey Church, the harvest is plentiful—but the workers are few.

Ask God to send you. This journey is narrow. It’s hard. It’s messy.

But we invite you—no matter where you’ve been, no matter where you are—to join the journey.

And it all starts by trusting Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God. He died for your sins. He was raised to give you new life. If you’re ready today—repent, trust Him, and meet Him in baptism.