IMPACT!

     When you hear the word, “missions.” what do you think? Depending on your experiences and religious background, the word “missions” will likely kindle different thoughts in your mind. However, what remains eternally consistent and enduring is the word of God (Isaiah 40:8). So, what is missions? The Bible is where we must look to determine what is true about missions. 3 questions that need to be addressed are: 1) What is the message of missions? 2) What is the role of the church in missions? and 3) What does missions practically look like? 

     The message of missions is simply the gospel. The gospel is the combination of a problem, a solution, and a response. The problem is that humanity is fallen and sinful. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God is holy and perfect. Because humans are not holy and perfect, we are separated from God. The solution is that Jesus, the Son of God who is fully God and fully man, came to earth. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, yet was killed on the cross, fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). He died and was buried, but on the third day, He rose from the grave, defeating death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The response to these truths required for salvation is faith in Christ and repenting of one’s sin. Factual belief in the above statements alone does not save a person. One must place Christ as their Savior and their Lord (Luke 5:32). This is the message of missions. 

     This is to be the priority in missions: taking the gospel to the nations. We find this command in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore 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, to the end of the age.” This command, often referred to as the Great Commision, instructs followers of Christ to GO and make disciples of ALL nations. The beauty and importance of the message of missions is what fuels missionaries. Missionaries must understand the weight of this calling: to take the message of the gospel to the nations.

     At times, missions is a foreign concept to those in local churches; missions is something “certain people” do around the world, away from all comforts. However, churches are to be actively engaged in missions! There are multiple roles that the church is responsible for regarding missions. 2 specific ways that churches should be involved in missions are: sending out missionaries from their congregation and providing financial and prayerful support to missionaries.

     First, churches should prioritize sending individuals into the mission field. Some churches can get so wrapped up in their own community that they forget that there are billions of people outside of their community that have never heard the gospel! Churches should have a sending mentality–raising up members of the congregation to be missionaries. Acts 13 records the church of Antioch sending Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. We see the church in prayer, fasting, and worship to the Lord (Acts 13:1-3) while sending out Paul and Barnabas. The church in Antioch partnered with and supported their missionaries, providing an example for churches today.

     Second, churches are to financially and prayerfully partner with missionaries. Prayer is expected of believers and is one of the most powerful tools believers have (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, James 5:16). Missionaries are in constant spiritual warfare. If the task of missionaries is to share the gospel and make disciples, the devil will do what he can to bring about calamity (1 Peter 5:8). The best way a church can support their missionaries is by fervent prayer. This is also easily incorporated into tasks for the congregation. In 1 Corinthians 9:14b, Paul writes, “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” In order for missionaries to utilize as much time as possible to serve and share the gospel with individuals, it is appropriate and ideal if churches financially support missionaries. When missionaries are well supported, they can dedicate their full attention to shining the light of Christ to the lost. Additionally, churches should prioritize reached and unreached people groups when supporting missionaries. Mission work is vital in all nations, and supporting the reached and unreached are equally important tasks. However, many churches today neglect to support missions to unreached people groups. It is important to provide support to unreached people groups as well as reached people groups as Christ’s return is at hand (Matthew 24:44).

     Though the title “missionary” should be reserved for those who take the gospel to another nation (a goer),  members of their own local church can be involved in missions by being a sender! By financially and prayerfully supporting missionaries, they are fulfilling their duty of partnering in mission work. However, individuals should not neglect local opportunities to serve their community either, focusing on international missions alone. Local gospel-sharing opportunities could include sharing with a coworker, family member, neighbor, stranger, organized door-to-door evangelism, along with other experiences. Sharing the gospel should be a lifestyle! One’s love for God should provoke one’s love for their neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). In loving our neighbor through evangelism and discipleship, we are following the command in Matthew 28 of making disciples. 

     In regards to mission trips, there are two types: short-term and long-term. Short-term trips are when believers serve for a week, even several months, then return home. Short-term trips are for those who are stationed in their home country, but take occasional, purposeful trips to partner with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries. Long-term trips are when believers serve for a year, even decades, making their home the country in which the mission is taking place. Long-term trips are ideally with an organization or local church involving accountability. Regardless of whether a mission trip is short-term or long-term, the task at hand should practically be the same: to make disciples.

     What missions practically looks like will depend on what your location is and what the needs of the people are that you are serving. In some countries, access to food or clean water are the top priorities for individuals. In other countries, people are searching for things like access to good education, English tutoring, or refugee relief. Providing for the specific needs of the people a missionary is serving will present opportunities to show God’s love, to shine Christ’s light, and to share the gospel! Some people groups are very hostile to Christianity. How can missionaries reach even the most hostile of people? By showing the love of God. John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

     Additionally, though it is important to gather information on the people groups to best address their needs, missions will look different based on the missionary’s skill set. If a missionary is skilled in linguistics, perhaps their mission may be in Bible translation. If a missionary is a pilot, perhaps their mission may be in delivering Bibles, medical supplies, or other resources. God has given each of us different gifts (1 Corinthians 12). Utilizing our God-given gifts and skills to impact the kingdom will reap eternal rewards; for Jesus says in Matthew 9:37-38, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”