(upper left, clockwise) Rev. Sterling Smith of White’s Chapel UMC presents a virtual check to GRACE CEO Shonda Schaefer, while Ian MacLean of Highland Landscaping and Traci Bernard, Texas Health Southlake, join in.
The message of Mission In The Marketplace was essential in February. Now, in the face of a global pandemic and the effect COVID-19 has had on our day-to-day lives, the meaning of Mission In The Marketplace has compounded multi-fold.
On February 20, “Mr. Cowboy” Bob Lilly, Veronica Cochran, CEO of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), and three-time Super Bowl champion and US Air Force fighter pilot, Chad Hennings, addressed an overflow crowd at White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake.
Their goal was simple: To inspire Christians to openly share their faith at work for the purpose of growing God’s Kingdom.
Yesterday, the organizers of the event met with GRACE CEO Shonda Schaefer to express how important the focus of Mission In The Marketplace is in today’s world.
Traci Bernard of Texas Health Southlake, Ian MacLean of Highland Landscaping, and Rev. Sterling Smith of White’s Chapel UMC, met via Zoom to discuss the event. Click Mission In The Marketplace for the video.
“A lot of people have a hole in their heart that they don’t know how to fill,” said Traci Bernard, president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southlake. “I think it is our responsibility to understand what that hole is, and know Jesus Christ can fill that hole.”
“There are some very great opportunities to do mission work in the marketplace,” said Ian MacLean, president of the Southlake-based Highland Landscaping, the presenting sponsor of the event. “It is the one mission field that is completely untapped.”
White’s Chapel UMC hosted the event for the second year, and the pastor for Evangelism and Involvement, Rev. Sterling Smith, summed up the focus of Mission In The Marketplace, and why GRACE was selected as the event beneficiary.
“We have a simple theology. Jesus was clear: Love God and love our neighbor,” said Rev. Smith. “GRACE does that, and exemplifies what it means to love our neighbor.”
Proceeds from the Mission In The Marketplace event will help families throughout north Texas who are impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
For more information about Mission In The Marketplace, please contact Lara Sundell, GRACE Community Engagement Director, at 817-305-4653.
