By Jeff Brink, February 13, 2024

I am humbled and thrilled to be part of a team traveling to a small town in Northeast Italy this summer on a short-term mission trip. We will support a ministry committed to sharing the gospel with the unreached in a spiritually dark part of Europe. On the heels of an inspiring planning meeting with the ministry founder, I was reminded of how important this Kingdom work is and how easily we can all get involved.

As Christians, we are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. Jesus told the disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This is the charge of the Great Commission.

You may ask, what does this have to do with networking? I read that only 1% of the Church serves full-time with Great Commission work. Imagine the Kingdom’s impact if the other 99% could be mobilized to participate! At FaithNet, we are developing a digital hub where Christians can easily find and connect (or network) with organizations and missionaries around the globe to facilitate this impact. We want to activate and connect:

• volunteers with serving opportunities and organizations
• people who want to work in their professions overseas with gospel impact opportunities
• donors with missions

Ultimately, the goal is cultivating connections that lead more people to Jesus Christ.

Since FaithNet ‘s ReachTheWorld (RTW) hub is not yet developed, I encourage you to start with your local church and explore its mission opportunities. Remember, getting involved doesn’t necessarily mean “going”; you can provide valuable support through financial giving and sharing your God-given skills. Short-term mission trip-goers often raise support from friends, family, and congregation members. Donating is a great way to participate in the Great Commission through these important gospel-sharing missions. Praying for specific gospel-sharing ministries is another important way to help.

I also want to make two practical connections that are top-of-mind.

Switchboard is an innovative organization and Great Commission platform https://www.globalswitchboard.io/

From their website:

“We’re connecting Kingdom Consultants (KCs) around the world with those serving in Great Commission Organizations (GCOs).

So whether you want to discover a new way to connect your experience and skills with the Great Commission or you’re looking for help to carry out the mission you’re on, Switchboard is here to help.”

Serenissima Ministry Group (SMG) wasfounded by an American pastor, Robert Krause, in Italy over 25 years ago. SMG is now actively planting churches across Europe and getting embedded in the communities they serve https://smgi.org/#ministries.

From their website:

“Mission: SMG is a dynamic partnership of churches which the Lord has called together to foster ministry multiplication, nurture church health, and strategically champion humanitarian projects. Our collective mission is to cultivate a flourishing Kingdom & Gospel DNA within every ministry, thereby empowering the multiplication of new ministries. By providing unwavering support to church planters and their congregations, we strive to establish enduring ministries that will stand the test of time, leaving a lasting impact on communities and generations to come.”

Serenissima is currently seeking funding for an exciting new Kingdom expansion opportunity in the heart of Trieste, Italy – purchasing a small building to expand their ministry and gospel reach. SMG has established an innovative “Greenhouse Fund,” which provides loan and donation options to make it easier to get involved https://simplebooklet.com/treciacolebrochure.

I encourage you to Connect in some way with a Great Commission initiative and participate in God’s Kingdom expansion plans. What time, talent, or treasure can you commit today?