What Does It Mean to Be 'Commissioned' as a Local Church with a Global Heart?
- Boundless Team
- Mar 12
- 7 min read
Tier 1 Group 4: Active Members & Volunteers
WHY: This post helps our First Assembly Memphis family understand that our local service in the 901 is part of a much larger, Spirit-led global movement, preparing our hearts for the upcoming AG World Congress theme.
Being commissioned means Jesus authorizes and sends His Church to make disciples—starting in Memphis and reaching the nations—through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8). It’s not a title; it’s our mission.
Today (March 9): Pastoral Staff Meeting at 9:00 AM.
WHY: This matters because when our 901 church family serves, prays, and gives, we’re participating in Jesus’ mission—locally through FA Memphis and globally through the broader Body of Christ.
Definition Block: Commissioning
Commissioning (biblical):Jesus-authorized sending—when Christ entrusts His people with His mission to preach the Gospel, make disciples, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power (Matthew 28:18–20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).
If you’ve spent any amount of time around First Assembly Memphis, you know we love our city. From the Friday night lights to the smell of slow-cooked barbecue that seems to drift through the air every time the wind blows right, we are 901 through and through. But as much as we love Cordova, Bartlett, and the heart of Memphis, our "neighborhood" actually extends much further than the I-240 loop.
As we look toward the fall of 2026, our global family, the Assemblies of God, is preparing for the World Congress in Accra, Ghana. The theme is "Commissioned: One Mandate, Every Nation." (You can also explore more about this through our internal pages: Accra 2026 and Global Missions.)
Now, "commissioned" is one of those big "churchy" words we throw around. It sounds official, maybe a little bit like something involving a navy ship or a high-ranking officer. But for us here at First Assembly, being commissioned is about a heartbeat. It’s about the shift from being a "member" to being a "missionary," whether that’s across the street or across the ocean.
More Than a Ceremony: What Commissioning Really Is
In many churches, you’ll see a commissioning service once or twice a year. People stand at the front, we lay hands on them, pray some powerful prayers, and send them off with a suitcase and a blessing. While those moments are beautiful (and scriptural!), commissioning is actually an ongoing state of being.
To be commissioned means to be entrusted with a task by an authority. In our case, that authority is Jesus Christ. When He stood on that mountain in Galilee and told His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19), He wasn't just making a suggestion to the eleven guys standing there. He was commissioning the Church, all of us.
Research shows that a local church acts as a "sending body." This means we don't just "fund" missionaries; we extend ourselves through them. When we support a worker in West Africa or a church planter in a different state, a piece of First Assembly Memphis is there with them. We are the home base, the prayer support, and the spiritual family that holds the rope while they climb.
The Global Heartbeat: Accra 2026 and the One Mandate
The 2026 AG World Congress in Accra, Ghana, is a massive reminder of our identity. The theme "One Mandate, Every Nation" highlights that the Great Commission isn't finished. There are still "unreached" people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus.
As a local church with a global heart, we realize that our mandate is the same as the church in Ghana, the church in Korea, and the church in Brazil. We are all commissioned under the same orders. This global perspective keeps us from getting "tunnel vision." It’s easy to get so focused on our own programs, our own buildings, and our own comfort that we forget there’s a world out there waiting for the hope we have.
Being commissioned means we take ownership of the global mission. It’s not "the denomination's job" or "the missions department's job." It’s our job. Every time you serve in the nursery, volunteer with FACS, or participate in a Life Group here in Memphis, you are part of the engine that powers our global reach.
The Biblical Foundation: Why We Go
Our commitment to being commissioned isn’t based on a trend; it’s rooted in the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God. We believe that the priority of the Church is to seek and save that which is lost.
Mission Component | Bible Verse | Meaning |
Jesus sends us | Matthew 28:18–20 | The Great Commission: we make disciples of all nations because Jesus has authority and gives the mandate. |
We witness in Spirit-empowered power | Acts 1:8 | The baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses—starting “here,” and reaching outward. |
The Gospel is for everyone | John 3:16 | God’s saving love is for the whole world; we don’t pick and choose who “deserves” to hear. |
We are sent like Jesus was sent | John 20:21 | Jesus models a “sent” life; the Church lives on mission, not in spiritual isolation. |
When we talk about being a "local church with a global heart," we’re saying that the same Spirit that moves in our sanctuary on Sunday morning is the same Spirit moving around the world as people come to Jesus.
Practical Steps: How to Live 'Commissioned' in Memphis
You might be thinking, "That sounds great, Penny, but I’m not moving to Ghana. I have a job in Cordova and a mortgage to pay."
That’s the beauty of it! Being commissioned doesn't always mean moving; it means living with a mission. Here is how we live this out practically at First Assembly Memphis:
1. Pray with a Map
Don't just pray for your own needs. Pick a country or a specific missionary we support and make them a regular part of your prayer life. Use your "901" grit to intercede for those in hard places.
2. Give with Purpose
When you give to missions, you aren't just hitting a button on www.famemphis.org. You are putting "fuel in the tank" for the Gospel to reach places you might never visit.
3. See Your Daily Life as a Mission Field
Your office, your gym, and your kid’s soccer game are all parts of the "Every Nation" mandate. You have been commissioned to the people in your life right now. You are an ambassador of Christ in the Mid-South.
The Role of Belonging and Accountability
One of the most important aspects of being commissioned is belonging. You can only be "sent" from a place where you are "planted."
At First Assembly Memphis, we want every member to feel that sense of belonging. When we commission someone for a short-term trip or a long-term assignment, they carry our DNA with them. They carry our prayers, our values, and our support.
But this also means we hold each other accountable. Are we living like people who have been given a royal commission? Are we being good stewards of the Gospel? As we move toward 2026, let’s challenge each other to live with a higher level of intentionality.
A Devotional Moment: The Heart of the Sender
Think about the father in the story of the Prodigal Son. He had a heart that stayed at the gate, looking out, waiting, and hoping. As a church, we should have that same "outward-looking" heart.
God is a "sending" God. He sent His Son. Jesus sent the disciples. The Spirit sends us. To be commissioned is to align your heart with the very nature of God. It’s moving from "What can I get from church?" to "Where is God sending me today?"
Whether it’s a simple word of encouragement to a neighbor or a financial gift that helps translate the Bible into a new language, every action matters. You are a vital link in a chain that stretches back 2,000 years and circles the entire globe.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While we might not all be boarding a plane for Accra in October 2026, we can all join in the spirit of that Congress. We can renew our commitment to the "One Mandate." We can pray for the leaders gathering there and for the African church, which is experiencing an incredible move of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s make it our goal to be a church that is famously "welcoming" here in Memphis, but also famously "sending" to the ends of the earth. We are a local church, yes. But our heart? Our heart is global.
Your Weekly Commissioning Quest
To help us align with this global heart, here is a simple "Quest" for each day this week:
Monday: Read Matthew 28:16-20. Ask God to show you who your "mission field" is today.
Tuesday: Go to www.famemphis.org and look at our mission and vision page. Pray for one specific area of our local outreach.
Wednesday: Fast one meal and use that time to pray for the Assemblies of God missionaries serving in "unreached" areas.
Thursday: Write a note of encouragement (an actual physical note or a text) to someone you know who serves in a ministry capacity.
Friday: Research one country in Africa and pray for the churches there as they prepare for the 2026 World Congress.
Saturday: Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh with power to be a witness in your neighborhood this weekend.
Sunday: Come ready to lean in—Sunday Classes at 9:30 AM and Worship at 10:30 AM—and show up with a spirit of worship and encouragement for others.
Summary Download
Click the image above to download a print-friendly 1-page summary of what it means to be a Commissioned Church.
Want to go deeper?
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You are not alone.
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