Come join with us and celebrate mission! Sunday, September 10, 2023 we will celebrate our annual Mission Festival in our 10:30 a.m. worship service. Our key verse for the Mission Festival is: Matt 28:16-20  

Our theme is, "Oh the Places You'll Go", inspired by the children's book by Dr. Seuss.

The Mission Festival in worship will have three events:    

Part 1  

We want to show how far God's blessing extends outward from Arcadia through our mission partners and ITS grads. To accomplish this, we asked them to send us a short "greeting" video stating the countries they are in. The videos will be shown during the worship portion of the service. Taken together, a theme will emerge: People being led by God to places that they could not have predicted or imagined. Theme: We thank God for preparing and sending pastors and mission partners into the world to fulfill the Great Commission. Our congregation is blessed to have participated by “setting the table” in support of our mission partners.  

Part 2  

Closer to home, we will hear short testimonies from David Figueroa, Andy LaPointe, Sampath Kumar and Mary Jo Wilson. Each will share about an opportunity or need that presented itself; being led by God to a Yes answer; and where they are today. To summarize: These are “origin stories” about how God plants "mustard seeds" in our hearts, how they grow when we respond with a step, and how we grow in new and exciting ways.   

Part 3  

Pastor John’s short sermon will remind us of Jonah’s origin story. We will recall lessons we learned about “Moving from Can’t to Can”. Topics: Do I as an individual sense God’s calling in a unique area? Are we as a congregation well suited to do something for the kingdom? What are our congregation’s spiritual gifts? Theme: Has God planted a mustard seed in you?  

Part 4 

Terry Bright and Julie Allender will remind us about our ITS grads and how they lead fruitful ministries all over the world. However, current students living in the dormitories are struggling. Without the ability to earn an income, students cannot afford fresh foods. They rely on food banks for a good portion of their groceries. Might our church be uniquely positioned to assist future Christian leaders with their grocery needs? Terry and Julie will describe how we can help. Theme: Could this be our origin story? Oh, the places where we’ll go!  

Benediction – Pastor John