A Moment for Mission
“So then, with endurance, let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2, CEB
Have you ever tried to run a race alone? Not just without teammates—but without coaches, encouragement, or even a clear sense of where you’re going? It’s exhausting. You tire quickly. You question if you’re on the right path.
That’s why Hebrews 12 reminds us: we don’t run this race of faith alone. “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” and we are called to run with perseverance, with our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Following Jesus requires more than personal strength. Like any long-distance race, it takes preparation, encouragement, and community. It takes teammates—those who run beside us, cheer us on, and help carry the mission forward when we grow tired.
That’s the beauty of how we live out our faith in The United Methodist Church. We don’t run solo—we run together, as a connection. And one powerful way we do this is through the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), the global mission and humanitarian agency of our church.
GBGM helps coordinate the work of missionaries, disaster relief teams, health workers, and church leaders across the globe. From communities recovering after hurricanes to children receiving vaccines in underserved regions, GBGM ensures that help gets where it’s needed—and that Christ’s love shows up where it matters most.
If you’ve ever seen a UMCOR cleaning bucket, heard a missionary speak, or watched a church partner respond to crisis, you’ve witnessed this mission in motion. And here’s something you may not realize: none of it happens by accident. None of it happens without you.
Just as in a relay race, each person has a role. Our role—through connectional giving—is to help carry the baton. We do that by supporting the World Service Fund, which fuels Global Ministries and ensures those helpers can keep helping. Through our giving, our prayers, and our shared commitment, we empower the Church to respond with faith, compassion, and courage—across the street and around the world.
We know life is better when we don’t run alone. And the Church’s mission is stronger when we run it together. So, as you reflect today, consider this: in a world that often feels overwhelming, we are not called to do everything—but we are called to do our part. And when we give to support GBGM, we become part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Hebrews tells us to “run with perseverance.” That’s what Global Ministries does every day. And when we support this work, we don’t just send money—we show up. We take our place in the race. We run alongside others. And we keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us all the way home.
Reflection Question:
Who helped you run your race—and how can your faith help someone else keep going today?
Children’s Message
Title: We Run Together
Materials: Running shoes or something that relates to a race
Good morning, friends!
Today I brought something to show you. (Hold up the shoes.) These are called running shoes. What do you think people wear these for? (Pause for responses, but guide them to answer running) Yes! For running—especially in races!
Who here has ever run in a race? Or maybe played tag or chased bubbles in the yard? Running can be so fun—but it can also make you tired, right?
Did you know that today’s Bible story talks about how life is kind of like a race that we all run? Not a race where we try to beat others, but a race that we’re all running together. It’s like a big, long relay race, and everyone plays a part. Some people run beside us. Some hand us water. Some cheer from the sidelines. And some—like the Bible says—are a "great cloud of witnesses"—people who trusted God before us and remind us to keep going, even when it’s hard.
When you’re running and playing hard, you can get really tired, can’t you? In the race of life, when we feel sad, scared, or not sure what to do next—that’s kind of like getting tired in the race too. But guess what? We don’t have to stop or give up. We can keep going because we’re not alone. Jesus is with us always.
And, like today’s bible story reminds us, we also have people all around us—our families, our church, our pastors, and even people we’ve never met—that “great cloud of witnesses” who help us on the way.
And do you know something else that’s really cool about running this race together? In the United Methodist Church, some of our friends running in this race too live all over the world! These friends are helpers called missionaries. They go to different places to teach, take care of people who are sick, feed those who are hungry, and share God’s love.
And guess what? We help them! That’s right—you, me, and all the people here today help them when we give money to our church. Some of that money goes into something called the World Service Fund, and that fund helps support a group called Global Ministries.
Global Ministries uses those gifts to send out more helpers—which means more friends to run with us! These helpers tell people all over the world about Jesus and remind them that they’re never alone—just like I’m telling you today.
But here’s the important part: without our help, they can’t do their part. Just like in a relay race, every runner matters. And we all have something to give. Isn’t that amazing?
So even though you might be small, you’re part of something really big. We’re all running this race of life—and with Jesus and each other, we don’t ever have to run alone. Life is so much better when you are not alone right?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for helping us run the race of faith. Thank you for Jesus, who shows us the way, and for all the people who help us keep going. Thank you for all the helpers around the world. Help us to give, to love, and to remember—we are never alone. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
God of all nations,
You call us to run the race of faith with perseverance and purpose. Thank you for the cloud of witnesses—past and present—who carry your love into the world. As we offer these gifts, we give thanks for the General Board of Global Ministries and the World Service Fund that supports their work. Bless these offerings so that through our connection, your mission may continue to heal, feed, teach, and serve around the globe. May we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we give and go in faith. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries
Enduring and Gracious God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses, those who have gone before us and those who walk beside us in faith. As we bring our gifts before you, we offer them in gratitude, knowing that our generosity is part of your ongoing work in the world. Strengthen us to run with perseverance the race set before us, so that through our giving and through our living, we may reflect the joy of Christ and the love that unites all your saints. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” – Hebrews 12:1
In Hebrews 12, we’re reminded that the life of faith is like a race—and we’re not running it alone. We are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” past and present, who encourage us to keep going with our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Through connectional giving, United Methodists run this race together. The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) helps us support missionaries, respond to disasters, care for global health, and extend God’s love to the ends of the earth. None of it happens without our shared commitment.
When we give through the World Service Fund, we help carry the baton of faith and service around the world.
Join us in worship as we celebrate the impact of our shared mission and commit to running this race—together.