For two weeks, the Missions Without Limits Project gathered 248 people in 41 locations across 10 countries in the region to share the message of the Gospel in creative ways ensuring to follow all health and safety protocols considering the global pandemic.
Missions Without Limits is a short-term project that emerged as there was a need to minister integrally to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This missionary opportunity consists of groups of volunteer missionaries, 3-10 people, serving their community for 7 days, adopting all pertinent health and safety precautions. This initiative emerged from the Global Missions Ministry as a way of thinking about missions in a “glocal” way. This term is a combination of the two words global and local, and this experience is exactly that because the teams serve locally but understand the global impact of the Kingdom of God. At the same time, the church makes a connection with people from other countries and cultures, since the project is being developed simultaneously in various areas in the region.
During the week of December 14-20, 2020, and January 4-10, 2021, young people, adults, and children gathered at 41 sites in 10 countries across the region. There was a total of 248 participants! Each local group began by praying and meeting the needs of their neighbors. In some places, this was done virtually by the government of each country. The message of the Gospel was shared by clowns in caravans telling bible stories, nutrition and recycling workshops, sports competitions, medical and cleaning teams, bible schools, donations of hygiene kits, school supplies, food and clothing, Work and Witness Days among other things.
“The young people were courageous in responsibly abiding by all biosecurity measures while continuing to share the gospel,” Mitzi Villegas said. “It’s exciting to see how small groups and local ministries are led by the Holy Spirit to transform their communities adapted into a context of global health care!”
Below is the testimony of Narda Paz, who served in the Gulf and Oaxaca districts of Mexico:
“My experience in virtual Missions Without Limits was beautiful and surprising because I knew a different way of doing missions. I was discouraged because my location had been canceled because of the outbreak situation but God orchestrated everything, and I can see that God’s mission has no limits. It filled me with joy to see that people I care about were able to hear the message of salvation on video calls and receive it in their hearts. Also, thank God we were able to work with the NCM in the Oaxaca district to give shoes to the windshield wipers and vendors at the traffic lights. I hope all these activities can inspire other brothers and sisters to share the love and hope we have in God in creative ways and thus continue to expand the kingdom of God.”
Mitzi Villegas said that Missions Without Limits transformed both the communities and the volunteer missionaries and that this experience was characterized by what was new: new calls, new ministries, new believers who need to be discipled, new churches planted, and a new way of thinking about missions. “Let us continue to dream of ways to continue serving our communities! Their love does not end, their compassion does not run out, and their mission has no limits!” he ended by saying.
Source: Mitzi Villegas
