As I was preparing to attend my first Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in April, I learned that the theme was “To Whom Shall We Go?”  Immediately, my mind conjured up what I thought was the meaning of this phrase—taking the gospel to unreached people groups (UPGs), those peoples who have not yet heard of Jesus and lack a viable, visible, and self-sustaining church. Accordingly, I was thrilled that GAFCON IV was going to focus on challenging the church to go to “the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). As it turns out, I was wrong.

The first night as the 1,302 participants composed of 315 bishops, 456 clergy, and 531 laity, from 51 nations gathered, the theme was explained. This phrase “to whom shall we go” is found in John 6:68. After many turned away from following Jesus, he asked his 12 Disciples “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter answered, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The theme; “To whom shall we go” became the call to the church at GAFCON. Our response was, “We go to Christ, through His unchanging Word, then with Christ to the whole world.”

Initially, I was taken aback and perhaps a bit disappointed. I was anticipating a rousing call and challenge to take the gospel to UPGs. But the emphasis was placed on going to Jesus first. Quickly, I became thankful for the well, ‘duh’ moment (meaning the conviction of sin), after which my skepticism and confusion gave way to the ‘aha’ moment (meaning I thanked Jesus for his forgiveness and grace). The order now made absolute sense. Our priority is going to Jesus first and then to UPGs, with Truth, in Truth, and for Truth.

In light of the assaults on Christ and His Bride, the emphasis of going first to Christ and then the nations is poignant. The challenges the Church is facing shaped the call to repentance the leaders of GAFCON IV issued to those who, through word and deed, have turned their back on the teachings of Christ and the historic teachings and creeds of His church.

Lest the reader fear that a hypocritical spirit shaped the assembly, not only were daily calls for repentance invoked from the platform, but time was also given to humbly confess and repent of our own sins. Personally, I’m thankful I was graced to repent of my idolatrous notion that what matters most is going to the UPGs. Jesus is what matters most. Being caught off guard by the answer to the theme, “To Whom Shall We Go?” exposed my vulnerability and my erroneous heart. Jesus comes first. Going to the nations with Jesus comes second.

“GAFCON is a movement focused on evangelism and mission, church planting, and providing support and a home for faithful Anglicans who are pressured by or alienated from revisionist dioceses and provinces.”  GAFCON IV in Kigali, Rwanda, reinforced the proper order; first go to Christ and then with Christ go to the whole world.

Anglican Frontier Missions supports the GAFCON movement and the communiqué arising from GAFCON IV. As we, the AFM family of Christ-followers, continue co-laboring with Christ, we make every attempt to put Jesus Christ first in everything we do with full realization that as we seek Jesus, our natural response is to share his love with the nations.