More people are being born into the world without ever hearing about Jesus Christ than at any other time in history. In 2008, 1.2 billion people were living on the planet who had never heard the good news of Jesus Christ. By 2025, that number is expected to reach 2.4 billion people. This reality can't be tolerated, and we need to do something about it!

Missions is crucial to the success of any church. They provide a link between the church and the world and help spread the gospel message. Every pastor should be concerned about missions and take steps to support and encourage church participation in missionary work. Here are 10 reasons why:

THE GOD OF THE BIBLE IS A MISSIONARY GOD

When most people think of missionaries, they imagine people who leave their home country to preach the gospel in foreign lands. However, the Bible teaches that God is a missionary. This means that God is always on a mission to redeem and restore his creation. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for our sins and make it possible for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Psalm 67:1-7 (NLT2) 1 May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. 2 May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. 3 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 4 Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. 5 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 6 Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. 7 Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him. 

When you read the Bible from the front cover to the back, you can't help but notice the missionary nature of God. He has always been sending, rescuing, redeeming, and restoring people throughout his Word. He has always intended the whole earth to give him glory and the nations to praise him!

THE BIBLE IS A MISSIONARY BOOK

The Bible is the best-selling book and has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is a missionary book that has been used to bring people to Christ for centuries around the world. It is a source of comfort and hope for a lost and dying world.

It is through God-breathed words that one is exposed to the mission of God. Reading and studying the Bible helps us understand who God is and what he desires for the world. In the Bible, theology and missions are inseparable. They serve to shape the biblical narrative itself and the lives of believers. Theology provides a framework for understanding God's purposes in the world, while missions is how believers put that theology into action. The Bible shows that theology and missions are two sides of the same coin in both cases. As we learn more about his missional plan in the Word, we can more effectively change the world through his Son, Jesus.

THE GOAL OF MISSIONS IS THE GLORY OF GOD AMONG ALL PEOPLE

Sadly, the true meaning of missions has been convoluted or lost due to its Westernization. Culture has pushed it more into programs, goal orientated, number of conversions, strategically planted churches, geographical locations, people groups, etc. As a result, it's more of a sterile operation and less of God and who he is. I'm not saying any of these things are unnecessary, but the essential piece, which has been ignored many times, is the glorification of God among all people.

Habakkuk 2:14 For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.

The caution here is that we need to make it less human result-driven and more focused on him and his glory. As Habakkuk says, make the earth be aware of his glory! God is zealous and is extending his glory around the globe! 

THE GREAT COMMISSION IS GLOBAL MISSIONS

The Great Commission is an imperative given by Jesus Christ to His disciples to make disciples of all nations. The mandate is for Christians to share the gospel message throughout the world. This commission has been a driving force for missionaries and evangelists for centuries, and the need for global missions has never been greater. There are still billions of people who have never heard the gospel, and Christ commands His followers to bring the good news to them. Despite significant challenges, global missions is vital in fulfilling the Great Commission and bringing glory to God.

JESUS COMMANDED US TO GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Acts 1:8 (NLT2) 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

​This is not a suggestion but a mandate from Christ to do so. I don't think this can be ignored. It's something we all need to be asking God where we are in this plan. Pastors need to be seeking the face of the Lord to ensure they are following the specific vision and plan for their house. Fulfilling these instructions can look different from church to church. There is not a one size fits all approach. The key is to do your plan from God.

THE MOTIVE OF MISSIONS IS THE LOVE OF GOD FOR ALL PEOPLE

John 3:16 (NLT2) 16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Global mission work should be motivated by a desire to share the love of God with others. By sending his Son, Jesus Christ, God acted out in love for his creation. Likewise, God's purpose for redemption and reconciliation is driven by his love for those on the earth. Our motivation can't be from within us, but from God when doing missions. Our love and affection will fail, but God's will never.

Philippians 2:13 says, "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." He will perform that work within us if we sincerely pray for his grace, desire, and power to do global missions. Also, as we step out in faith, he will continually supply.

THE VISION FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS STARTS IN THE CHURCH

The vision for global missions starts within the local church among the believers in Christ. As we can see in the epistles, Apostle Paul desired to establish new churches throughout the areas he reached continually.

The Body of Christ needs to desire to ensure there are churches among all the people of the world in every place. There are many things churches focus on, such as feeding the hungry, establishing learning schools for trades, etc. BUT, without a local body within the nations, teaching, training, and raising up disciples that glorify God, all other efforts are futile.
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Within the New Testament, we can see that the focus was on establishing local churches where Jesus Christ is known and worshiped. Churches have been ordained by God, established by Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a beacon on the hill shining the light of Jesus unto all men! 

MISSIONS IS THE MOBILIZATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE

Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT2) 37 He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

Christianity is not for spectators. Too often, Christians sit back and expect others to do the work of evangelism and global missions. Jesus recognized the problem while upon the earth, and it still exists today. There is much work but not enough laborers. We must get off our couches and become intentional with a plan from the Holy Spirit on how our churches will make an impact across the globe!

Romans 10:13-15 (NLT2) 13 For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" 

Churches must stop laying the responsibility upon other churches. Many are diligent in the things of God in regard to the utter ends of the earth. BUT sadly, many are not. The world will not be evangelized without hearing the message of Jesus Christ; someone needs to tell them, and someone needs to be sent. We can pray for the workers to be sent, but it's hypocritical to pray if the one praying is unwilling to do the job.

CHURCH MEMBERS DOING GLOBAL MISSIONS BREATHE LIFE WITHIN THE CHURCH

The church is not just a building on a street corner; it is people from worldwide coming together to share the gospel. When people go on mission trips, they come back with a new understanding of their faith and the world. They also come back with new relationships with other believers worldwide.

​Time after time, pastors have testified to me that global missions have changed their church for the better. Not only did the members' lives change while on the field, but they became better servants at the local church. They found a whole new appreciation for what God is doing, and they wanted to be a part of it more so. At the same time, that new fresh excitement attracted others looking for something more than just themselves. 

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO

James 4:17 (NLT2) 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. 

There are close to 8 billion people in the world. Yet, according to missiologists, approximately 3 billion people have little to no access to the gospel. Therefore, there are billions of people upon this earth living their entire lives and dying without the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This reality cannot be tolerable for any pastor with this knowledge.

Make no mistake about it; the Bible is very clear; the church is called to global missions. Christ himself commanded his followers to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Throughout the Bible, God demonstrates a heart for missions, sending his people out to proclaim his good news to the ends of the earth. The early church was incredibly missionary-minded, spreading the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. And throughout history, God has used churches committed to global missions to bring about a radical transformation in some of the most challenging places on earth.

When you know the right thing to do, you don't say you will pray about it, or you have to feel led. Many times, over, God is waiting on us to make the first step. Not doing so, according to the Bible, it's sinful. Many who ignore the mandate from Christ will have to answer for it.
 
IN CONCLUSION
 
God has called us to be his witnesses in the world. He has given us everything we need to be successful. He has equipped us with his Holy Spirit and given us the Word of God. We can be confident that when we obey God's call, He will bless our efforts. We must all take global missions earnestly to fulfill the mandate from Christ. We each have a role to play in this endeavor, and by working together, we can make a significant impact. Let's all pray for guidance and strength as we work to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. 

​Shawn Paul
Mission Director
MorningStar Missions
502-509-3607 USA#
shawn@morningstarmissions.org
CHECK OUT OUR MISSION TRAINING VIDEOS



MISSIONS ON YOUR HEART?

If you are a ministry, minister, or person of God that wants to dive deeper into missions but don't know how that looks for you, feel free to contact me. I would love to explore your heart and see where God leads you. I can share with you all the avenues that I am aware of in the hopes of connecting and plugging you into the right place that God has for you in the world of missions. Reaching lives for Jesus Christ in the international fields requires thoughtful planning. There is a mission pipeline sort of speak that needs to be built out specifically for you. I can help you do that.

A “missionary” is a person who leaves their home culture to live in a different culture and focuses on Kingdom growth as a product, or byproduct, of their ministry, work, and/or life.

Not all people are cut out for mission work in foreign lands, and that is OK. Romans 12:5 says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Just as God graces one individual with the gifting to do one thing for his Kingdom, he gifts the other with something else. The Bible has described the church as the Body of Christ. The body is made up of many parts. We are all to work together for one purpose collectively: to advance his Kingdom globally. Also, you may feel called to missions; what does that look like for you? There are thousands of mission organizations people work for and never leave their home country.
 
Missionaries must have certain qualities within them. Many express the struggles they deal with while on the mission field. The mission life is not for the faint in heart. These individuals are required to have a strong faith and be willing to sacrifice for the Kingdom of God. While on a mission, missionaries often experience physical and emotional challenges that test their strength and faith. However, trials can help them grow and mature as they minister to others with these qualities.

CERTAINTY

Romans 11:29 “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”

Before missionaries embark on this life-changing journey, they must be certain that God calls them to do it. They cannot simply assume that they are supposed to go to a different country or culture to fulfill God’s plan for their life; they need to be sure that God is leading them there. It must be that you know that you know. This certainty will give them the determination to stay on the mission field when circumstances are screaming in their faces to quit and go home.
The famous Dr. Lester Sumrall was known for his global outreach for the Gospel; he continuously encouraged people not to quit. He even authored a book, “I Did Not Quit.” Why did he have this mindset? Because he was sure who he was in Christ and the call of God on his life!
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INITIATIVE AND SELF-SELF STARTER

"You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind." Irish Proverb
 
Mission work is not about getting rich, but the Bible is truly clear that we need to be profitable in the things of God. The parable of the talents sets an expectation for us believers to multiply the things God has entrusted with us. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels; that only brings non-achievement.
 
In saying that, Missionaries are not typically given a lot of guidance from their church or sending agency. There will be no one knocking on their door at 8 in the morning to hold their hands throughout the day to ensure they accomplish their tasks. Their given strength and direction come from God through his Holy Spirit, but he will not do it for them. Instead, they are expected to be initiative-takers and figure out what they need to succeed through the Lord’s guidance. This can be difficult for some missionaries, which are not used to being on their own. However, they need to remember that the success of their mission depends on their daily efforts, and no one is going to come and do it for them. ​

PERSEVERANCE
 
Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
 
Being a missionary requires a great deal of patience and perseverance. It can be challenging to learn the language and culture of the people you are trying to reach, and it can be challenging to see any results from your efforts. But if you are dedicated to serving God and working for His Kingdom, you will be rewarded with a sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you are making a difference in the lives of others.
 
When the missionary gets to a foreign land, they will find that the Western Christian mentality does not always line up with the culture they are working in. The perseverance will require them to think outside the box. There will be many times when they will have to contextualize the Gospel to fit the perspective of those they are ministering to. Again, this takes perseverance to do so.
 
HUMILITY
 
James 4:6 “And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
 
Missionaries find out quickly the need to walk in humility, or they will be humbled. Through difficult living conditions, cultural shock, or lack of understanding from those they are trying to help, missionaries expeditiously learn their place in the world and their dependence on God. The last thing they want to bring to the mission field is a sense of superiority from a western mindset. The Indigenous people often see right through it, and it will hinder any work God wants to do through them. So, they need to leave baggage in their home country and pack a good dose of humility before jumping on the plane. 

FLEXIBILITY
 
“Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be broken.”
 
Missionaries often must face the challenge of adapting to a new culture. This can be difficult, especially if they have not been trained in cultural flexibility. Some things are not flexible, such as core values and beliefs in God’s Word. However, many things can be adapted. Such as how to minister the Gospel while contextualizing it for those hearing it. I have dealt with many power outages, internet disconnects, road blockades, and tropical rainy seasons, which hindered my plans, but I have learned to be flexible. Missionaries who can adapt quickly and efficiently will have a much easier time reaching their goals. Things that are not flexible eventually break!
 
ABILITY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
 
Philippians 2:3 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”
 
Missionaries must learn how to be a part of a team and work together with other people, not only with fellow ex-pats of the same passport country, but there needs to be a balance of building relations with the nationals. Building and maintaining relationships is crucial. One of the significant reasons missionaries leave their assignments early is a conflict with others.

SPIRITUALLY DISCIPLINED
 
2 Timothy 2:15 “Work hard to present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”
 
A missionary needs to have personal spiritual disciplines and the ability to grow in the Lord independently. This is important because it will allow them to be more effective in their ministry. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, and studying God’s Word are essential for any Christian, but especially for a missionary. They also need to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives and obey Him without question. This way, they can rely on Him entirely for guidance and direction.
 
STRONG WORK ETHIC
 
Colossians 3:23 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."
 
Missions is not a place for the faint of heart. It takes hard work and dedication to fulfill the mission God has called us to. This means that we cannot be lazy in our efforts but must put all our energy into reaching the people around us for Christ. Too often, people are content to sit back and do nothing, waiting for God to move instead of stepping out in faith themselves. But this is not what God desires from us. Instead, he wants us to be active in our faith, reaching out to those who need Him the most. 

PASSION

“Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don’t lose the passion and the love for what you do.” Nadia Comaneci

When those challenges come for the missionary, they will need more than personal drive and determination. It is going to have to be deep devotedness within themselves. They will need to have a passion for the Kingdom of God and His work; this will get them through these challenging times. Mission work is never about yourself but for God. He will give the missionary the strength and courage they will need to continue.

Many missionaries will discuss burnout, and its realities are genuine. It is something that one must be aware of, but passion from God has its way of keeping our work from taxing us while maintaining a supply of the strength needed for what we are to be doing for him. For me, passion comes through a consistent prayer life, reading his Word, and being thankful. My favorite scripture is Philippians 2:13 “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” The missionary needs to pray for passion; when walking in it, it will foster the desire and power to do what pleases God!

LIFELONG LEARNING

“Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.” Lin Pernille

Being a learner for a missionary is like a job requirement. They go to new and different places from their own culture, so they must have an inner desire to learn all the facets of where God is placing them to minister the Gospel best effectively.
One of the keys to being a learner is to be willing to do so. I must admit, I fell into a trap when first arriving on the mission field. I was immediately bombarded with everything I needed to learn; my mind could not take anymore. So, I shut down for some time. This can be a natural response, but it is not recommended. What I found for myself was to take little bites. It is OK if the missionary does not learn all at once, repetition is good, and soon, it will absorb in overtime.
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A final note on being a learner, an open mind is essential. At times, diverse cultures clash, and in some cases, more than not. The missionary is in a host country and being open to new ideas requires them to see things differently. I am not saying to cross lines within the Word of God and compromise. However, there is a way to receive different ideas within cultures and stay true to the Biblical teachings.

RESILIENCE

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
 
Resilience is the ability to recover from and adapt to change, and usually, that change can bring hurt or frustration with it. For example, a different culture can leave a person emotionally racked. They might have to switch to another way of life to keep pace with it. To survive and advance in a new world, they must have the ability to bounce back and invigorate themselves after experiencing a possible radical change. A person with resilience will give them that no quitting sense attitude no matter how difficult things get. They know that setbacks are a part of life, and they are not afraid to face challenges head-on.

IN CONCLUSION

Missionaries can be a special breed. They have qualities that help them be all they can be for God on the mission field. These traits push them through tough times while they continue to serve their God-given mission.

If God has called a person to become a missionary, he has also equipped them to do so. From my personal experience, I may not of had all these qualities when entering the mission field, or at least they were not perfected. BUT I can testify today, I have grown a lot over time, and I see these qualities more so today than before.
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If you feel God is leading you in this direction, do not hesitate to take him by the hand and obey.