LAUNCH

"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" - Matthew 28:19

The Grace Community Church Launch program is designed to mobilize and train the community of believers to finish the Great Commission Jesus gave us. He instructed us that now, because all the authority in heaven and earth had been entrusted to him, we are to invite people from every people group to join His community and follow Him (Matthew 28:18-21).

Now, 1991 years later, the task He gave us is finally nearing completion. With your involvement, it is likely we will get it done in your lifetime…

If you wish to participate with Grace Community as a Great Commission worker, we want to help you through several components of preparation to help equip you for effective cross-cultural ministry. These components should be thought of as college “credits” which can be completed over a period of time or simultaneously for those on an accelerated track. (And all of these are available even for those not planning for overseas work.)

Launch Components

  • Participate immediately in the ministries of our overseas workers by meeting with them each Wednesday @ 7:30 am in the GHOP or online. Email Pastor Don at don@gracearlington.com to join.

  • Each semester, Pastor Steve leads a 13-week Launch Global Workshop. Those planning for long-term overseas work are also required to take Perspectives, a one-semester, 3-credit course which explores God’s Great Commission story, beginning in Genesis and continuing to modern times.

  • Many times, those preparing for overseas ministry can learn much by participating locally in our various areas of cross-cultural outreach. We want all prospective overseas workers to experience at least one semester in one of these areas (or equivalent ministry):

    o English as a Second Language (ESL)

    o Arlington Arab Women’s Center (AAWC)

    o International Student ministry at the Cornerstone & UTA.

  • Each prospective overseas worker should participate in an initial Grace Community “Vision Trip”. These trips include, but are not limited to one of the following:

    o Turkey trip with Pastor Don Beacham.

    o Kyrgyzstan trip with Nick

    o Japan 日田夏の冒険 trip with Pastor Steve.

    o Philippine Agta trip with Pastor Steve.

    o South Asia trip with Pastor Steve.

    o Other approved trips with one of our overseas workers.

  • As you begin to formulate long-term plans of where and how you will do ministry, each prospective worker should plan to live in the prospective country for 3-6 months, participating in language learning and cultural acquisition.

  • As a final step in preparation to be “launched”, prospective workers will meet with the Grace Community Elders to be commissioned for the work of ministry.

  • Each prospective overseas worker will be paired with one of our GCC members who has worked on the field.