This litany has been used in SNU spring chapel services in which either SNU's spring break mission teams or those going on summer trips were commissioned.
Leader: As many SNU students and staff contemplate going home or to some
vacation venue, some SNU students have chosen to go "beyond the beach" to take the gospel of
Christ across some cultural and geographic boundaries.
All: We support this valuable and unique ministry.
Leader: The Lord himself has commanded us to go into all the world. "Beyond the Beach" trips
to ____________ and to _________ are two small steps toward fulfilling Christ's
Great Commission.
Youth in Mission participants and JESUS film team members: We will pray for you that the
Holy Spirit will fill and empower and guide you.
Leader: The Chicago and Belize teams will be inviting people to seek God's face, to receive
God's love in Christ, and to radiate God's Spirit in the world. The people to whom they go will
have many spiritual, emotional, physical and psychological needs.
Faculty and staff: We offer our blessing on those who are soon to leave.
Leader: The call to seek God's face, to receive God's love in Christ and to radiate God's Spirit in
the world is not restricted to those on the teams. This is a call to which
entire SNU community must respond.
All: To live up to this calling, we need the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
Leader: Jesus Christ has promised to always be with us. Jesus
invites us to abide in Him and promises to abide in us.
All: We thank Jesus for this promise. Strengthened by the awareness of Jesus in us, we offer
ourselves to God's purposes and accept this call.
Leader: There will be many challenges on this journey, but we are led by the greatest of all
shepherds. Jesus knows where we will find what we need. We are all part of this adventure of
seeing where Jesus will lead.
Stuents being commissioned: We joyfully offer our gifts and talents, our energy and
enthusiasm to follow Jesus' lead in the many challenges that our ministry will bring.
Faculty and staff: We thank God for the inspiration you
are to us. We offer our prayers and emotional support as you set out for this spring break
adventure with God.
Leader: May the Shepherd of all of our souls lead you, bless you and make you a blessing as you
serve in Chicago and in Belize. May that same Shepherd also lead the rest of us, bless us and
make us a blessing wherever we will spend this week of spring break.
Youth 1: In the Great Commission given in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus tells us to go and make disciples (Matt. 28:19).
Youth 2: In his Gospel, Mark reports that Jesus told us to go and tell the good news to everyone, everywhere (Mark 16:15).
Youth 3: Jesus tells us in the Gospel of Luke that He is sending forth the promise of God with us (Luke 24:49).
Youth 4: Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John, "You did not choose Me, but I
chose you to go."
And, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 15:16; 20:21 NIV).
Pastor: A mission . . . sending forth . . . a person sent somewhere to serve. God
sends a person on mission.
Commission . . . granting authority . . . allowing someone to act on behalf of another. God
commissions a person to go for Him.
Youth on the _______ missions team, do you recognize your mission being sent forth by God to
a specific service?
Team: We do.
Pastor: As your assignment has been given, have you accepted it as a commission from God to go and act on His behalf?
Team: We have.
Pastor: Do you commit yourselves to serve faithfully on this trip in ways that will bring honor and glory to the Lord?
Team: We do.
Pastor: Parents, it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:15 KJV). Do you recognize God's blessing upon the lives of your children and His commission to them?
Parents: We do.
Pastor: Have you committed your children to the Lord?
Parents: We have.
Pastor: Will you commit yourselves to pray earnestly for their mission?
Parents: We will.
Responsive readings to use in world evangelism focused services
-- Howard Culbertson
10/40 Window explanation and
map Seeking God's
will? African martyr's commitment
Mission trip fundraising
Ten ways to ruin your mission trip
Nazarene Missions International resources