Thank you for joining us! Throughout this month we are discussing “missional living.” At the heart of this holistic view of the Christian life, is sharing the Gospel, with our neighbors and the world. Today we are focused on the mandate to take the Gospel to the nations.
Missionary might not be your vocational title, but Jesus calls you to be one. There is no getting around it. Christians are called to be missionaries to the world.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… (Matthew 28:19a)
Jesus’ great commission does not have an exclusion clause— not even a global pandemic. So, I am writing to myself today, and brainstorming ways I can share the Gospel with the world from my home base.
The World in Your Backyard
Sometimes the world is around the corner. In her post, International Ministry Right Here, Jennifer Hong relates how God brought the nations to her doorstep: “Right here in Houston, the Lord has opened a multitude of ways for us to love, serve, and minister to people of many nations.” I encourage you to read Jennifer’s post because it might open your eyes to the world in your backyard.
Similarly, I have a ministry that reaches various corners of the world by volunteering at the USA Headquarters of Wycliffe Bible Translators— less than two miles from my home. As I minister to new “MKs” (Missionary Kids), I play a small role in helping advance Bible translation. Sometimes God has global, Gospel-sharing opportunities for us right where we are.
The World Through Mission Partners
Another way to be an ambassador of the Gospel, is to partner with full-time missionaries. These are men and women who have committed their lives to sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard. You can find and meet vocational missionaries through your local church. Besides the support of your church’s mission board, consider encouraging them through your direct financial and/or prayer support.
Additionally, there are parachurch organizations who exist to advance the Gospel. Many of these organizations have made inroads for the Gospel by targeting specific groups or needs. Many of the missionaries who represent these organizations must raise their own financial support. When you partner with them you help take the Gospel to universities, the Muslim world, hostile and remote regions, and more.
The World on Your Prayer List
Equally important to what I have already shared, is prayer. We need to pray for the advancement of the Gospel. What I find exciting is that there are so many organizations who have created tools to help us do this. Check out these links!
Pray for countries and continents.
Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation
Praying for the World: A Partnership of Operation World and the Lausanne Movement
Pray for the Bibleless.
The Seed Company: 9 Ways to Pray for Those You Don’t Know
Final Thoughts
Now that I have brainstormed some ways to share the Gospel with the nations, I need to focus on my follow through. What I have shared is not exhaustive. What ideas do you have? Consider sharing them in the comments.
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