Skip to content

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Grounded in Faith, Formed in Community

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
Menu

A Mission Reflection: Pray, Bring Good News, and Build Relationships

Posted on April 25, 2014March 18, 2021 by ptsblog
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

 

In Luke chapter 10, verses 5-9, Jesus teaches the disciples how to find the other hospitable:

5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”

8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

My time in Brazil taught me to do this very thing. This short term mission trip was not about saving or fixing the other; it was about building relationships, so we could learn from one another.

The purpose of our trip was to learn about church planting outside of a Western
context. In the span of ten days, I learned many things, but three themes struck
me in particular: pray, bring good news, and build relationships.

These three themes boiled up in every church plant. My hope is to reflect on the three
themes I learned from my brothers and sisters, in order to engage with the community God is sending me to.

 

Written by: Brendan Ashley, current MDiv student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter

Founded in 1794, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate theological school of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offering master's and doctor of ministry degrees as well as certificate programs. Participating in God's ongoing mission in the world, Pittsburgh Seminary is a community of Christ joining in the Spirit's work of forming and equipping people for ministries familiar and yet to unfold and communities present and yet to be gathered.

Recent Posts

  • Finding Ground – A Journey of Vocational Recovery at PTS
  • Christian Mission: Past Treasures, Future Hopes
  • Sourcing and Sustaining Lay Leadership
  • Disability Inclusion in the Church
  • Opening A New Chapter—A Second-Career Student’s Story

Categories

  • Book Recommendations
  • Church Planting
  • Counseling
  • Inside the PTS Curriculum
  • Ministry
  • People of PTS
  • Protestant Spirituality
  • Seminary and Programs
  • Sermon Writing Tips
  • Social Work
  • Theological Reflection
  • Uncategorized
  • Who Is My Neighbor?

Archives

Tags

Bible study Call to ministry Christian spirituality church leadership church planting church planting for new communities church planting in pennsylvania Communion elements community Community worship doctor of ministry education faith and politics fasting Festivals and holy days Fred Rogers Good Samaritan Lent master of divinity mdiv alumni mdiv program mdiv program and social work MDiv program Pittsburgh ministry Ministry conferences and events Mission reflections mission trip pastoral care pastoral counseling Pastoral vocation PCUSA Seminary community seminary experience Seminary experiences sermon writing tips Social justice Spiritual journeys theological education theology and social work Urban ministry Volunteering Women in ministry world mission World Mission Initiative Youth ministry

Top Posts and Pages

  • Finding Ground – A Journey of Vocational Recovery at PTS
    Finding Ground – A Journey of Vocational Recovery at PTS
  • Care and Counseling for the Caregiver
    Care and Counseling for the Caregiver
  • Holistic Preparation for Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
    Holistic Preparation for Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
  • Celebrating 60 Years of the Clifford E. Barbour Library
    Celebrating 60 Years of the Clifford E. Barbour Library
  • Why My MDiv/MSW Joint Degree Created Clarity
    Why My MDiv/MSW Joint Degree Created Clarity
  • What a Church Planter Needs
    What a Church Planter Needs
  • What's the Difference Between a DMin and a PhD?
    What's the Difference Between a DMin and a PhD?
  • Intercultural Learning Trip: Philippines
    Intercultural Learning Trip: Philippines
  • Bar+Church
    Bar+Church
  • Books Every Pastor Should Read
    Books Every Pastor Should Read

Subscribe to Blog via E-mail

Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail.

© 2025 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme