We are the story still being written

The story of Jesus doesn’t end as most stories do. There isn’t any neat conclusion, no final full stop marking its close. Instead, the gospel concludes with movement – with a call that points outward: go, love, repeat.

The resurrection will not be merely a triumphant finale; it’s the start of something recent. The first followers of Jesus weren’t invited to linger in nostalgia but propelled into the world with a commission that also resonates today.

To follow Christ is rarely simply to consider in Him, but to be called by Him.

In John’s Gospel, the risen Christ breathes peace upon His disciples and says, “As the Father has sent me, I’m sending you” (John 20:21).

These are usually not words for a select few but the inspiration of Christian identity. Just as Christ was sent into the world’s brokenness, so too are His followers.

The commissioning comes with equipping: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and also you will probably be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Mission begins not with human strength but with divine empowerment.

Isaiah’s vision of God underscores the identical truth. Only after his guilt had been cleansed could he say, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

Forgiveness precedes calling. For Christians, the cleansing work of Christ makes way for the indwelling Spirit, transforming forgiven people into forgiving ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).

What follows will not be a solitary mission but one carried out within the presence of the Lord who promised, “Surely I’m with you usually, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

The need around us is overwhelming: fractured communities, injustice, poverty, loneliness. Yet the resources of God are greater still. Grace, Scripture, the Spirit’s gifts, and the fellowship of believers together form an inexhaustible supply.

What matters will not be the dimensions of our efforts however the willingness to supply them. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” declares the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).

Examples from churches today show this clearly. In Worthing, a Christian community group became certainly one of the primary within the UK to sponsor a Syrian refugee family. They welcomed the family on the airport, provided housing, language support, and friendship. A step of obedience became a story of transformation.

In Reading, Abbey Baptist Church has been revitalised through outreach to asylum seekers and newcomers from Hong Kong. What was once a small, declining congregation is now a vibrant, multi-ethnic community where needs are met, friendships are formed, and the gospel is embodied.

On a bigger scale, the charity Refugees at Home has enabled 1000’s of British households to open their spare rooms to asylum seekers. By mid-2025, greater than 6,800 individuals had been hosted, providing over 700,000 nights of shelter. These are usually not dramatic gestures of heroism but unusual acts of hospitality – offered in faith and multiplied by God.

Such stories underline a significant lesson: being called is less about travelling far than about being available where we’re. Mission happens within the workplace corridor, on the neighbour’s doorstep, within the café down the road. It will not be at all times dramatic, however it is at all times significant.

For believers wondering the way to begin, three easy rhythms can guide us:

1. Start with day by day dependence, asking the Spirit for fresh renewal each morning.

2. Move toward need slightly than away from it. Often, opportunities arise unplanned – in interruptions and probability encounters.

3. Let word and deed travel together. The gospel is each spoken and lived – truth to be proclaimed and care to be embodied.

None of this requires extraordinary ability. What it does require is availability. The prayer of Isaiah – “Here am I; send me” – is as relevant now because it was then. The arrow at the tip of the gospel still points forward. The query is whether or not we are going to walk in its direction.

The story of Christ continues within the lives of those that take up His calling. Every act of affection offered in His name carries everlasting weight. Nothing is wasted.

Called not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit, we discover ourselves a part of something larger than we could ever imagine: God’s ongoing work of healing, reconciliation, and hope in a world that sorely needs it.

Duncan Williams is outreach director for the Christian Free Press and has worked for Son Christian Media here within the UK and Recovery Network Radio within the United States. He is an ordained minister and a long-term member of Christians in Media. He provides content and syndicated news for regional publisher www.inyourarea.co.uk