ANGLICAN PARISH OF COLAC

The classic mission of the Christian Church is to strive to fulfill the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples prior to his Ascension. Jesus told his disciples to preach the Gospel to all the world; to make disciples of all nations; to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; and to teach people to obey all that he had commanded (see Mark 16.14-18; Matthew 28.16-20; Luke 24.44-49; Acts 1.4-8). While this remains very much a part of what we aim to do and who we aim to be, we also recognise that it isn't enough to merely preach the Good News - we have to be good news. The good news which Jesus preached during his ministry wasn't that the "good" go to "heaven"; Jesus rather preached the Kingdom of God was at hand - that the time of God's just and righteous rule had arrived. Christians believe that Jesus' ministry inaugurated God's kingdom, but that it has not yet arrived in its fullness. Our mission is to continue what Jesus started - to work for love and justice by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.