In recent months, I
have found myself engaged in several conversations about missions with a number
of dear friends and some strangers who are doing remarkable work for the Lord
all over the world. The conversations were provoking & heartwarming, and
they challenged my thinking and attitude. My heart was encouraged to see what
the Lord is doing throughout the world to draw many souls to himself. Some of
the works will never be heard, but the results will be seen when God's people
gather around the throne from every tongue, tribe and nation, worshipping the
Lamb who is worthy! Let me share some random thoughts with you from these conversations.
- Awareness about missions is not
the same as action. It is possible to talk about the need for the gospel
and to go and give, but that awareness must not be mistaken for action.
- We need more believers willing
to count the cost to take the gospel to places in desperate need of the
good news. An estimated 3 billion people in the world have never heard the
gospel and live in the most unreached areas in the world.
- Christian families must be
committed to praying and giving to the work of missions generously and
regularly. To build a culture of missions in our churches, we must start
in the home.
- Christians must be intentional
about sharing the gospel with those around them. One cannot be committed
to the gospel to far places if they do not have a lifestyle of sharing the
gospel with those they live and work with.
- Churches must send qualified
and capable men to plant churches. Unqualified and incompetent leadership
is dangerous and unhelpful to all involved.
- It's unwise to send someone to
church plant cross-culturally when they have not gained or received some
practical ministry training and exposure in their local context. To move
someone straight from the classroom to cross-cultural church planting is
potentially careless and dangerous for the person and the ministry. The
potential damage is great. And while the wounds may heal, the scars will
remain.
- Churches must have a clear
strategy to take the gospel to the unreached people groups. We need to
study, be on the lookout for new places developing, and be aware of where
gospel preaching churches are most needed.
- Some missions curriculums and
textbooks in bible schools need some revision. A lot of the places that
were considered frontiers are now doing missions. Going into these places
and serving effectively will require a change in mindset and approach.
- The west needs to know and
learn from the church planting endeavours of churches in Africa.
- The African churches need to
learn from the good and bad of several years of mission effort from
western churches. Our brothers and sisters have led and set an example for
us. There is much we can learn and emulate; there is also a lot we should
avoid and keep far from us.
Onwards and upwards,
dear Christian, onwards and upwards!
