Some of the greatest needs in missions are people who are ready to be sent to minister — and people who will prepare them to be sent, and then send them. People in thousands of languages still have no access to the Gospel, a Christian, or a Bible in a language they understand. Who will go tell them? Who will send those who go?

Would any of us have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ if, throughout history, Christians had not obeyed God and empowered succeeding generations to communicate the Good News? If mission is God’s idea, and each of us is indwelt by the Holy Spirit with a role to play in His plan, then how can we help each other practically engage, by faith, in meaningful ways?

Missions begins in the local church. The local church is the objective of missions.

Missions is sometimes conducted as if a cowboy were performing a show, and the role of everyone else is to throw money into his hat so the show can continue. But in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul shows us that ministry is a function of the Body of Christ — a team, a single body moving together with different functions toward common purposes under the direction of the Head. The Body will be far more effective at completing the Great Commission if we empower the whole Body rather than a small contingent of mobilizers criss-crossing the country. (Ephesians 4:12, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-15)

Equipping every part of the Body

  1. 01

    Leaders — Establishing Culture

    Paul was not the only missionary among the Apostles: all but one died ministering outside their home country. They didn’t delegate “missions” to a committee — they were personally engaged. The greatest need in missions is people prepared in their local churches: sure of their salvation, secure in their identity in Christ, maturing in faith, and (for church planters) on a trajectory to be qualified to ordain church leaders someday. Leaders establish a culture of casting vision clearly, providing clear paths of discipleship toward maturity, keeping the progress of the Great Commission in front of the church, preparing the congregation as senders, and seeking the Lord about whom to send. Teaching obedience (Matthew 28:20) precedes having people ready to obey and be sent.

  2. 02

    Missions Committees — Providing Opportunities

    The pattern of Acts 13:2-3 was marking Biblically qualified leaders who were already actively engaged in ministry, recognized by the congregation, and set apart by the Holy Spirit. What would happen if western churches intentionally prepared people to be sent as ambassadors to the unreached languages? Some questions worth asking: When the word “missions” is spoken, what first comes to mind for your members? How much of your missions effort is directed toward people who have never had any opportunity to hear about Jesus? Who would your church send to teach all that Christ commanded and ordain qualified leaders? How do you know when the mission has been accomplished in a particular place?

  3. 03

    Families — Building Community

    I was six years old when I understood that I needed a perfect Savior. At age eight I began to realize the importance of going to people who have no access to the Gospel. At fifteen I had set my path toward missionary aviation. My parents were primarily responsible for giving me the information I needed — intentional but not coercive. The choices were mine, but they provided the opportunities to learn more. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) Parents care the most, carry the greatest responsibility, and have the most consistent opportunities to disciple their children in God’s person, purpose, plan, people, and process.

  4. 04

    Children — Starting Early

    Kids can tell other people about Jesus — but they can’t tell what they haven’t heard. I was eight when someone told my family that entire language groups have no way to hear about Jesus. I thought, “Somebody should do something about that!” We realized we knew the message and could share it. Fifty-plus years later, we are still doing something about it. Teaching children early was God’s idea (Deuteronomy 6:7), and one study found that 71% of Christians in the US came to faith before age 14. It is never too early to establish patterns of obedience based on God’s word.

  5. 05

    Friends & Exponents — Expanding the Team

    Faith comes by hearing the word of God, spoken by messengers who are sent. (Romans 10:13-17) Believers cannot go to the ends of the earth unless they know there are people who know nothing of Jesus. It is not uncommon for missionaries to name a particular person through whom God challenged them to consider a missionary career — someone who specifically asked them to lay aside worldly ambitions. The most effective communication is friends telling friends, because it is what is on their hearts. “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Six ways to promote missions in your church

Evangelize — effective evangelism expands and strengthens the team, and new believers cause other believers to grow. Establish — ground every believer in the identity of Christ, their identity in Him, and God’s purpose for the church. Equip — live life with people in discipleship, working together in ministry. Educate — has the Great Commission been completed? Where are the people with no access? What are the barriers? Engage — prepare people to be sent, and prepare to send them. Encourage — God’s worldwide work is a Body effort with roles for every stage of life, prayer being the easiest, followed closely by communication.

Go deeper: proven equipping tools

We all set cultures in the communities we lead by the things we talk about, what we value, and where we invite people to engage. Are we establishing a culture of teamwork — provoking one another to love and good works that extends to the ends of the earth?