The Great Commission is a clear commandment of Jesus for his church. In general, part of what it means to be an evangelical church is to support the spread of the gospel to those who have never heard it. For most of the History of the Church, it meant sending long-term missionaries, offering money to support them, and praying for them. Without air transport and the Internet, there simply wasn’t much more than a local church in the West could do.
Today, however, there are many opportunities to participate directly in missions abroad. Faced with so many possibilities, how does a church decide what to do?Based on decades of experience on the other side of the equation (as a field agent living abroad). , here is a list of things your church should NOT do regarding your participation in the achievement of the Great Commission.
- Many excuses can be used to do nothing regarding global missions.
- Except perhaps occasional quest offers.
- Bringing the gospel to those who are not affected is costly.
- Uncomfortable.
- Impractical.
- And sometimes even unhealthy or dangerous.
- There are many people lost around you where you live.
- You have so many needs within your own church.
- The list could grow even more.
Are all these things true? And none of them is a valid excuse; Jesus didn’t call you out of safety, comfort, or convenience; He called you to take up your cross and die. In fact, there are many lost people around your church, but you are there to share the gospel with them. Over two billion people in the world have no churches, no believers, no access to the gospel near them, and they never will. listen if nobody goes. You actually have to meet the needs of the people in your church, but there is a difference between real needs and wants or preferences, and most churches in the West have more than enough of both to meet the needs. real needs on their own terms and bring the gospel to the unreached. Of course, this may involve some level of sacrifice of our abundance, but we have to do it anyway. Don’t ignore the missionary imperative and do more than just verbally. Take the fate of the world seriously.
While it is true that global evangelization is the responsibility of the local church, missionary agencies and partners in the field can be of great use to you in fulfilling this responsibility. Missionary agencies have experience in sending and supporting missionaries, both in the short and long term, and also have perspectives on what needs to be done and how to do it.
Similarly, field officials abroad have experience, connections, and knowledge that can be invaluable to a local church seeking greater participation. With missionary agencies and partners on the ground, the local church must do its homework and make sure there is real correspondence on both. theology and missionary philosophy between the church and those with whom it will work. However, once this is established, the Church will see that good partners make missionary engagement more viable as it becomes more fruitful.
If you are in partnership with workers or a mission agency, your local church in the West should not be trying to be responsible for what is happening there. Cultures, peoples and situations vary greatly throughout the world. People in the field understand these variables in ways you don’t. If you want to send a short-term mission team, send them out to do what field workers are supposed to do, not what makes temps enjoy the trip or feel good about themselves. Go in a spirit of humble slavery, not in a spirit of rights. Follow the customs and practices that your hosts in the field ask you to follow, even if they don’t mean much to you. Make sure your contributions align with the long-term strategy of the field team. When using the money, use the wisdom and experience of field workers to guide you in deciding what should and should not be financed. If you can’t trust your field partners in this way, you have the wrong field partners. Just remember that they have to live with the consequences of their actions long after you leave.
Churches that have recently had the passion to reach the excluded often take a random approach to the global mission; they want to go everywhere and sometimes they try. They can send a short-term team to one place and a long-term worker elsewhere, while funding a project in a third place and committing to pray for a quarter. This zeal is laudable, but not very useful. It’s better. To begin with, clearly emphasize the association with a worker or team abroad, or with a specific group or place of people. Over time, the church’s ability can grow to include other people or places, but it will do much better for the church and the countryside. if you focus on one or more long-term commitments from the start.
Too often, foreign workers feel “out of sight, out of mind. “Given the possibilities of modern communication technologies, there is no reason for this to happen in most countries abroad.
As a church you send, keep in touch with your workers abroad. Make sure your congregation listens to them, knows them, and prays regularly for them. Pray for the special strategic initiatives you are taking and also pray for the material. Send them as many treatment cards and packages as possible, give them a pastoral visit at least once a season, if possible, keep a communication deep enough to be aware of their struggles and victories, welcome them, love them and listen to them when they return from the field at short intervals. Don’t let foreign workers feel abandoned.
Local churches are often more reactive than proactive and approve of missionary candidates who feel they are calling themselves and support missionary causes that interest someone in the congregation. Instead, the church must offer opportunities for intercultural ministry, identifying those who demonstrate gifts in this area. encourage them to pursue missions and train them to become disciples and make disciples in the world. The Church must also be prudent and strategic in her own missionary participation, prioritizing those who still need to hear the gospel and focusing on its long term. Overseas Partners Local churches should prayer, prioritize and carefully plan their participation in missions.
Missions should be integrated into all normal components of Church life. To do this, the main pastor must be fully engaged and lead the way. Missionary prayer and mission testimonies should be incorporated into primary service, small group meetings, and any other regular church practices. The pastor should preach about God’s missions and the desire of nations each time they appear in the scripture text, not just during a special missionary service each year. Missionary education should be given to everyone in the church, not just a small group with such interest. Missionary offerings should be prioritized in the church budget and emphasized as a normal component of discipleship. The global advancement of the gospel is not just an area of interest for a small elite within the church. Every believer shares this responsibility and the whole church must do so. encourage yourself to bring the Good News to those who have not yet heard it.
By: Zane Pratt. © 9Marks. Website: 9marks. org. Translated with permission. Source: 7 things your church shouldn’t do on missions
Original: 7 things your church will avoid during your missions, © Faithful Department. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br. All rights reserved. Translation: Camila Rebeca Teixeira. Review: André Alosio Oliveira da Silva.