NLC Connect - Nov. 4, 2026

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
There is something special about the songs we sing in church. Some have been sung for generations, while others are newer expressions of worship. Different melodies, different words, and different generations, but often the same message.
This week, I want to invite you to take a few minutes to listen to two songs. One is an old hymn, and the other is a contemporary worship song. Both have something beautiful to say about missions and our willingness to be used by God.
Send the Light — Charles H. Gabriel (1890)
Written more than 130 years ago, Send the Light is a classic missions hymn that encouraged Christians to share the good news of Jesus around the world.
When I think about this hymn, I'm reminded that sharing God's light isn't just about traveling to another country or participating in a mission trip.
In Matthew 5:14, Jesus tells His followers, "You are the light of the world."
That includes us, right where we are.
We have opportunities every day to share His light. Sometimes it's through serving someone in need, offering encouragement, welcoming someone new, or simply taking the time to notice someone who might otherwise be overlooked.
Those moments matter. And we don't always know the impact they will have.
Here I Am, Lord (Send Me) — Brandon Lake
Now, let's jump forward more than a century.
This song reminds me of Isaiah 6:8, when God asks, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
Isaiah responds, "Here am I. Send me!"
I love the simplicity of that response.
Isaiah didn't have all the answers. He didn't know exactly what was ahead of him. But he was willing.
And I think that's something we can all learn from.
Sometimes we want to know the plan before we say yes. We want to know what to expect, how things will work out, and what the outcome will be.
But God doesn't always give us those details. Sometimes He simply invites us to trust Him and take the next step.
Two Songs. One Invitation.
This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear about our SOAR and Lithuania mission trips. We celebrated the ways God was working through relationships, service, and simple acts of love.
One of the things I keep coming back to is that we don't always get to see the fruit of what God is doing. We may never know how a conversation, a prayer, or a moment of encouragement impacts someone's life.
And that's okay.
Our responsibility isn't to produce the fruit. It's to remain connected to Jesus, be faithful with the opportunities He gives us, and trust Him with the rest.
I think that's what I love about putting these two songs together.
One reminds us that there is a world that needs the light of Jesus. The other reminds us that we have the opportunity to respond to that need.
And that response doesn't have to begin with a passport or a plane ticket (although it absolutely can!).
It can begin right here, in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and community.
As you listen to these two songs, I encourage you to think about a few questions:

• Who around me needs to experience the love and light of Jesus?
• Where might God be inviting me to step out of my comfort zone?
• What would it look like to say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me," in my everyday life?