Thursday, February 17, 2011

Missions Today: An Introduction


How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom 10:14-17 [ESV])

   Christian Missions has evolved over the last few decades. The model used to be that a missionary was someone involved directly in the conversion of another to the Christian faith. The typical missionary was a preacher who held tent meetings and did evangelistic activities. While missions still includes these kinds of activities, the current generation of missionary needs is much broader. 

 As mission agencies grow and reach more people there are other roles to fill in missionary service. In order for the missionary to reach a people group there must be a pilot to fly the bush-plane to get them there. There also must be teachers to educate the missionary's children either at a boarding school or in the remote area they are serving. There must be technical support for the equipment they are using, as well as people in the missionary’s home country to manage donations to the ministry and make sure it gets to the missionary overseas. All of these roles are missionary roles in the field. Missionaries also need prayer and financial support from home to be successful. 

 Stay tuned the next few weeks as we discuss the ways to get involved without leaving home.  

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