All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

[Editor’s Note: As we prepare for Chatham Serves this Sunday, our CD writers this week will take a second look at the core values from our recent Inner Strength series.  Today, Elizabeth revisits our church’s commitment to be Gospel-centered.]

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be an ambassador for Christ. Ambassadors have tremendous responsibility. They represent a nation and are an authorized spokesperson for their government. 

Recently I heard about a ministry that is a great illustration of what it looks like to be Christ’s ambassador to secular culture. It is an international ministry called Steiger, made up mainly of young people, who go into places where they know non-Christians will be to strike up conversations. They go out to meet the people who won’t necessarily come into a church building. They’ll go to Pride events, nightclubs, even protests to look for ways to talk to people. They offer sincere compassion and kindness, with the aim to be both communicators and demonstrators of the Gospel.

One time, a group from the ministry went into their city center with a framed piece of artwork with a cover over it. They began to describe to the people around them that what was behind the cover was truly beautiful and unique. As onlookers gathered around intrigued, they asked if anyone wanted to see the masterpiece. When curiosity was piqued, they removed the cover to reveal – not a framed canvas - but a mirror. They would explain to the person in the mirror that THEY were the masterpiece. God’s masterpiece. That they were made in the image of God and were beautiful in His sight.

Steiger has a Gospel-Centered lens through which they see the broken and hurting world around them. They step into the “foreign land” of secular culture to deliver the Good News of King Jesus. 

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes forget that I am first an ambassador for Christ – I represent the Kingdom of God. When I find myself in a conversation with someone who sees the world differently than I do, I must remember that my goal is not necessarily to persuade with words but to seek to represent My King well in each situation. Perhaps I need to listen. Or show empathy. Or tell them about the King of Kings, who is gracious and benevolent. 

This Sunday is Chatham Serves. A day we set aside as a church to go out into our world and represent the Kingdom of God. As you leave the “embassy” of the church and head into the “foreign land,” how will you represent our King this weekend?