Culture and Mission, Form and Function of the ChurchSince its inception, the Church has presented the timeless truth of the Gospel through the lens of culture. Already in the book of Acts, God asks Peter to deliver the Gospel to a group of Gentiles, a previously inconceivable thought (Acts 10). Throughout the history of the Church, God has sent His servants to proclaim the message to thousands of diverse people groups of unique cultures. However, sometimes cultural differences can cloud the transmission of the message, both on the part of the listener and the speaker. These barriers can occur between people of different nationalities or within the same neighborhood. Assessing the cultural differences of any target group is essential to minimize unnecessary distractions, as this can occur anywhere. This author served as a senior pastor in the ministry examined in this essay. The period in question served as a turning point for this church, and cultural factors warrant an examination of how they played a role in its eventual success. In an effort to determine the influence of culture on a local congregation seeking to fulfill the mission of the universal Church, an analysis of its fundamental objectives in relation to this unchanging mission, its efforts toward the target culture, and its cultural foundations that influence ministerial efforts has revealed the culture's ability to both enhance and usurp the mission of the universal Church. The Mission and Goals of the Local Ministry Shortly before his ascension, Jesus gave His disciples the mission, commonly known as the Great Commission, to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). As the church has developed, this charge is central to its mission. Making disciples is not just an activity, a medium of paper, an approach, expectations, expected outcomes, and essential values. A common mistake is to assume that the culture in which the individual grows up is correct. Failure to analyze any culture against biblical standards can prove disastrous. References Dada, A. (2014). Old wine in a new bottle: elements of Yoruba culture in Aladura Christianity. Black Theology, 12(1), 19-32.Grace Church (2014). Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Retrieved from: http://www.gracemesa.org/statement.htmlGuder, D. L. (2005). Living Worthily: Work and Testimony from the Perspective of the Theology of the Missionary Church. Word & World, 25(4), 424-432.Hull, B. (1996). T-Net. Training network. Aurora: Evangelical Free Church of America. Hull, B. (2010). A Reluctant Prophet: How does Professor Willard propose to conquer the world? Journal of spiritual formation and care of the soul, 3(2), 283-295.