Be Full – “Only One Hope”

This weekend we kick off our “Be Full” celebration – our annual pause to highlight and celebrate our Missions (Be Full) program. Simply put, “missions” is everything we do as a church – by serving, giving, going and praying – to show and tell people outside of our church about the love of Jesus. That includes people “across the street” as well as those “around the world” in difficult and sometimes dangerous places. We kick off the celebration with two of our missions partners who are working in those difficult and dangerous places – and seeing God do amazing things through their willingness to serve him.

1. Introduction (Pastor Ben)
   
   • Our “Be Full” celebration is really a celebration of your generosity, and especially of how your generosity to our Be Full (Missions) Fund is making a difference “across the street and around the world.” Back in 2020 at the height of the COVID crisis, we decided as a church to “lean into” the attitude of scarcity with our generosity; we set a goal of giving away $1M in 3 years. We met that in 2023, so we raised it to $2M in 5 years – and we (you) met that goal as of last month!
   • This morning we heard from Allison, who continues to follow her calling in a very tough place in the middle of the Muslim world. Now I want to introduce you to a new partner, OneHope, who has a very simple vision statement: “God’s Word, Every Child.” The mission of OneHope is to get the story of the Bible into the hands of every child on earth, and they’re doing it; in 35 years, they’ve reached 2 billion children and have now set a goal to reach another 2 billion by 2033.
   • How? By using technology tools to translate the Bible into every language in the world, and by using digital platforms (the Bible App for Kids, the Kids Bible Experience) and “digital missionaries” on social media. Over half of OneHope’s outreach efforts to kids and youth are now via digital platforms. This morning we’ll hear from one of those digital missionaries from Nigeria, Loveday Leonard.
2. OneHope Digital Missionaries (Loveday Leonard, OneHope)
   
   • Digital missions uses digital platforms to reach and evangelize young people who can’t or won’t go to a physical church. Almost all of them (even in Africa) have smartphones and can access social media, so OneHope started a digital missions program in 2021. The first year they reached (engaged with) 800,000; in 2024, they reached 2.8 million.
   • The engagement process starts with a simple question that pops up in a user’s social media feed – e.g., “Are you feeling lonely?” When someone clicks on the question, they receive hopeful assurance that they’re loved and valued – information that begins to lead them toward the gospel. Eventually, if they continue, they’re offered the chance to live-chat with a trained digital missionary.
   • The numbers (and the conversations) indicate how “hungry” young people around the world are for community, meaning, and purpose; they have real pain, sadness, loneliness and depression in their lives, and are reaching out for answers. OneHope digital missionaries meet them there with the truth of the gospel – and with hope.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Psalm 96:1-3; Matthew 9:35-38; Luke 15:3-7; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 4:12

Video of the Week: Generosity by the Bible Project

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

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1. How important is it to you that Cape Cod Church is a church that focuses heavily on missions? Is that a big deal to you? Why or why not?

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2. As a church, we talk about serving those “across the street and around the world” through our missions work. Which of those two areas (local/US or global/international) do you consider to be our most important focus?  Explain your answer.  

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3. Read Matthew 9:35-38. What, if anything, would you say this passage tell us about Jesus’ view of missions (and how to be “missionaries”)?

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4. Do you consider yourself to be a “missionary”?  Why or why not?

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5. OneHope – whose goal is to reach “every child” with God’s Word – has great success in doing just that over the last 35 years.  What part of the OneHope story excites or energizes you the most?    

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6. As Loveday Leonard described, “digital missions” via social media and chat is now reaching millions of young people in some of the darkest and most restrictive places in the world.  Do you think a similar effort would be useful (and effective) here in the US?  Why or why not?

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