Bill Hybels has said, and I agree, that “The local church is the hope of the world.” In times of tragedy, it is often the local churches that come to the aid of those in need. For many, attending a weekend service is the only exposure they ever get to the teachings of Jesus and the love of God. Stories abound of people who, having reached the end of their rope, stumbled into a church service just to check out the “God thing”. Beyond all of this, the local church should be the launching point – and the refueling station – for believers to go about the great commission of taking the good news of Jesus throughout the world.