Three passages speak specifically to what First Baptist Church is called to do:
Matthew
28:19-20, the Great Commission, commands us to be disciple makers. This
includes actively seeking the lost and discipling the believer.
Therefore, we are serious about spreading the gospel and providing ways
for new believers to grow in maturity so they too can be disciple
makers.
Acts
1:8 gives us our mission field... everywhere. Disciple-making starts
for us here in Hazlehurst, but we must take that witness all over the
world. Therefore, we will seek to shine brightly for Jesus in our
community: in homes, schools, work places, and every other place we find
ourselves. We also commit to taking the good news throughout
Mississippi, the U.S., and our world. We will support and pray for
others as they join us in that mission.
Mark
12:28-30, the Great Commandment, speaks to our heart. The most
important thing we can do is to love God with all we have and love our
neighbor as ourself. We love because He first loved us. We love as He
loves us. Our love for Him is expressed through obedience to His word.
Our love for those around us is expressed in both word and deed. We
cannot truly love our neighbor without sharing the good news with them.
Yet if we do not show compassion and care for our neighbor, our gospel
witness rings hollow. Therefore, we commit to loving our community in
real and practical ways that provide opportunities to share the good
news through an authentic witness. After all, Jesus says that people
will know we belong to Him by the way we love one another.