MISSIONS AND OUTREACH

The purpose of the Missions and Outreach Team is to reinforce the vision of River Oaks to build followers of Jesus who are sent to reach others.

Relying upon the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit, we seek to grow a missions heart in the church family and to create missions awareness by providing relevant education and experiences.

On the international level, the Outreach Team supports and nurtures our long-term missionaries, who serve in various capacities— such as church planting, Bible translation, and ministry to orphans and street children. For those in our church family interested in first-hand missions experience, we offer short-term cross-cultural ministry opportunities.

In keeping with the Great Commission, our desire is to make disciples of Jesus among all people groups, specifically those to whom the Gospel has not been available. This has led us to adopt a particular unreached people group in South Asia for focused prayer and evangelism efforts.

We also want to develop an increased awareness of and passion for local outreach opportunities. We do this not only by sharing the Good News of the Gospel, but also by meeting practical needs of the homeless, the hungry, and the least resourced in our community.

International Missions

Embracing God’s World Through Missions


“Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.”
—Psalm 96:3-4

The focus of the Outreach Ministry of River Oaks is to pray for the anointing and empowering of the Holy Spirit in all we do, grow a missions heart in the church family, support and nurture our long-term missionaries, provide short‐term cross‐cultural trips and projects, and raise up new missionaries.

If you feel this particular call on your life to go to the uttermost parts of the world, you may want to explore a career in foreign missions. Consider being a tent maker, in which you use your career cross-culturally. Start by participating in a domestic or international short-term ministry opportunity, or go on a short-term mission trip to another country.

Another way to be a part of the Outreach Ministry is to simply be engaged in ministry where you are. We encourage you to welcome the people of the world who come here, befriend international students attending community colleges and universities, reach out to refugees through ESL classes and resettlement ministry, and warmly host students in a foreign exchange program.

 

Unreached People Group

An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there are 2% or less indigenous believing Christians. Unreached people groups do not have enough of a Christian population or the resources to effectively evangelize the people. Approximately 41% of the world population is “unreached." - Joshua Project

Characterization:
No Christians. No Churches. No Scriptures. No Missionaries. Can you imagine your life if you lived in one of the many places in the world for which this is a way of life? Can you imagine going through life not knowing that the Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth and died on a cross for your sins? What if you were never told of our Heavenly Father or never had the opportunity to learn from the Scriptures that were breathed by Him?

Unfortunately, this is reality for far too many people in the world. These people can be in remote areas of the world or in places where there is one dominant religion. In some Muslim countries, the mention of Jesus will label you an “infidel” and could be punishable by death. Jesus, in the Great Commission, tells us to "go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 [ESV]).

Relationship:
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”- Matthew 24:14

Our Church Involvement:
In 2009, River Oaks Community Church adopted its first unreached people group. Our UPG ministry team has coordinated short-term mission trips to the area, and we have been involved with Christian medical clinics, remote village ministries, and Bible translation.

River Oaks is helping spread the gospel to people groups who may not receive the message any other way. Join us in this ministry! Send us an email to find out how you can get involved, and please check out our Unreached People Group display on the wall in the corridor leading to the Children's Ministry area. 

Local Outreach

Jesus called His disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). While we are actively involved in spreading the Gospel to the most remote corners of the world, we also remain committed to reaching our Jerusalem–the city of Winston-Salem. Through our partnership with local ministries we become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to our community.

 Local Ministry Opportunities

Internationals Project

World Relief High Point/Winston-Salem resettles over 400 refugees a year in the Triad. Join the ROCC Internationals team as they participate in this effort to restore a hope and future to families who have had to leave much behind. There are many opportunities for individuals, small groups, and families to participate. If this interests you please visit the World Relief website and click on volunteer to see the many opportunities available to help refugees in the Triad.

The Internationals Project also helps connect our ROCC international church members and students through potlucks and fellowship.