Reel Life International is a Great Commission ministry formed to work alongside the church to engage the people of God in the mission of God for the glory of God. Our vision is for God’s people to cultivate a deep passion for the gospel through participation in local discipleship and short-term missions.
Serving the church locally (facilitating discipleship)
and globally (facilitating missions)
How We Facilitate Discipleship & Missions:
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- We recruit involvement, engaging believers in the Great Commission
- We provide training and resources
- We provide structure and systems making it easier for the people of God to engage with Him in His mission
Engaging the People of God in the mission of God
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- Praying: (1) Monthly prayer for field partners, (2) prayer for teams serving on mission & (3) advocating daily prayer for local discipleship
- Giving: (1) Support for the ministry of Reel Life & (2) Missionary field partners
- Equipping: Helping disciples of Christ be more effective disciple-makers
- Going: Serving locally as well as in a context different than our own
Ultimately, we desire to assist in growing churches by helping members implement the great commission in their lives.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth.”– Acts 1:8
Discipleship
Reel Life provides structure and systems making it easier for disciples of Christ to engage in discipleship. Specifically, we help encourage the formation of “Huddle Groups” for ongoing encouragement and accountability. Our role with the groups is to provide training, resources and additional layers of accountability.
Our library of resources include recommendations for materials to disciple unbelievers as well as new and untrained believers. This includes topical subjects such as the how to walk with Christ, apologetics, how to study the Bible, theology, Scripture memorization, things to look for in a healthy church, evangelism, etc.
We also provide a network of people looking to be discipled. These referrals are derived from local ministry partners engaged in meeting the needs of the community.
Reel Life also provides training for effectively making disciples. Rather than a program to follow, we provide guidance and suggestions, pointing the disciple-maker to God’s Word and prayer for ultimate direction.
- Best practices are gathered and presented from Scripture, frequently representing commands rather than suggestions.
- Supporting tips and ideas are also made available from trusted authors, pastors and experienced discipleship leaders.
And let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.– Hebrews 10:24-25
Given that discipleship can be difficult, we advocate the formation of Huddle Groups for training, encouragement and accountability for discipleship group leaders. Reel Life recruits “Huddle Group Captains” from the broad churched audience the same way we recruit leaders for mission trips – through grass roots efforts as well as events and ongoing media. These leaders then gather with other potential disciple-makers to encourage their personal involvement in equipping others through the formation of additional discipleship groups.
Advocating for obedience-based discipleship, Reel Life encourages discipleship group leaders to actively minister alongside those whom they are training at least once a month, applying the teachings of Scripture which are being shared. We also advocate for serving together one week a year in a different context, as each newly trained believer should seek the Lord as to where are how they are being called to serve.
Missions
By mobilizing people and resources, Reel Life endeavors to share the love of Christ with those facing extreme physical and spiritual need. Our work is accomplished through international church and missionary field partners as well as the many volunteers who travel with us. In addition to an incredible hands-on experience, Reel Life also provides participants with an opportunity to explore biblical life application principles which greatly improve perspective and help provide clarity to one’s life purpose.
“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights
of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy…”– Psalm 82:3-4a
Formed in 2009, the work of Reel Life International has grown to serve in many countries, including Cuba, Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Bahamas and the U.S. It is our belief that personal involvement, adequate resources and effective partnerships with the local church are the primary keys necessary for bringing about the most effective long-term alleviation of the social and spiritual issues we seek to address.
Are you being called to put down your nets, unplug for a week, and engage with God? Consider joining us or forming a team from your church, family, or business for a custom week of incredible team-building, leadership development and spiritual growth. It is guaranteed to be a time you will not soon forget!
Why Reel Life? The story behind the name…
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.– Matthew 4:19-20
The name Reel Life International is rooted in Jesus’ call for us to follow Him. His words in the Gospel of Matthew point to the fact that if we follow Him, He will make us into “fishers of men.” In other words, outreach and evangelism are to be central components in the lives of followers of Christ. If this were not the case, He would have said something different or explained some other options for His followers! In this text, Jesus was calling men to stop what they were doing and completely change the direction of their lives in order to follow Him. This was not a part-time call. It was not a call dealing with comfort level or personal preference. It was a call to join Him in the eternally significant activity of fishing for the souls of men.
This specific illustration was used with these men because they were fishermen and would understand the analogy. He was calling them to something much bigger, and their response is significant. Not only did they make the decision to follow Christ, but they did so immediately. The manner in which they were moved by God’s call upon their lives led them to abruptly stop what they were doing with no intent of going back. God’s word provides us with the intricate detail that they “left their nets,” pointing to the fact that they left behind that which provided for their very livelihoods. A fisherman’s nets would be considered among their most valuable possessions. Not only did they respond by following Jesus immediately, but they did so in a manner of complete commitment and dependency. Though they understood this higher calling upon their lives, they certainly did not know exactly how this would play out. Following Jesus required faith in Him and obedience to Him.
And so it is with us. If you are a follower of Christ, God’s word provides clear instructions as to what we are to be doing. Glorifying God by multiplying our faith is to be our life focus. The context of Matthew 4 is the same as Matthew 28, Acts 1 and Romans 10. To be a follower of Christ is to be a fisher of men. Everything else in our lives is meant to revolve around this central purpose.
The goal of Reel Life International is to involve God’s people in His great mission so that we may all be known as “fishers of men.” We believe that local discipleship is essential, and a cross-cultural mission trip is an outstanding platform for learning to apply the things we study in God’s Word. Reel Life is committed to providing opportunities for each of us to take steps of obedience and to encourage one another in love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24) As a result, we find incredible evidence of God’s faithfulness. He will provide abundant opportunities for discipleship if we make ourselves available to Him. And as we engage in missions, an exchange of blessings takes place as the local church is encouraged and strengthened while our teams are drawn into a closer relationship with their Heavenly Father.
Reel Life serves as a conduit, sending both people and resources to further the sustainable work of our field partners.