In my experience there has been some confusion around the idea of Christian Missions. Let’s start by establishing what I feel the current belief of missions is. Currently, Wikipeda describes Christian missions as, “… an organized effort to spread Christianity. Missions often involve sending individuals and groups, called missionaries, across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries, for the purpose of proselytism.” While this statement as a whole is true, I believe it can be misleading.
If asked, most Christians, when they hear the word missionary, conjure up an image in their minds of somebody who sold everything and left their country to go to some far off forgotten place with no running water and barely any food. To put it more simply, they leave the country and everything they know to win people to Jesus. While this is true, not all missionaries are called to leave their country, their region or even their home town to serve God. Some people are called to serve right in their own neighborhood. Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the Earth” represent geographical areas. Jerusalem was the capital city for the Hebrew people. Judea was their home territory. Samaria represents a farther distance. “The ends of the Earth”, represent just that….the ends of the earth….a great distance away. My belief is that a Missionary is somebody who is sent by God. If a person is called by God to serve the widow down the street, does that make them any less important than the Christian who is called to serve in the jungles of South America? I don’t believe so. God calls His people to listen to the Holy Spirit and the Spirit leads them.
If you are a Christian, and you are seeking God whole heartedly, He will lay something on your heart. Whether it is to serve locally, or abroad, at the point of calling, you are a missionary. One who is called and sent by God.
Here are some questions that every believer in Jesus Christ should ask:
- What is God saying to me right now about His people?
- What can I do about it?
- Is this something I am to do alone or do I need help?
- What is my plan of attack.
- What kind or resources is it going to take to accomplish what God is asking me to do?
If God is laying some area of service on your heart and you are not sure how to proceed, contact us perhaps we can help.
You must be logged in to post a comment.