Top 10 things everyone can do for world mission
by Justin D. Long
Throughout the last year's issues of the Monday Morning Reality Check, we have probed the many "sticking points" which keep the task of world evangelization from being completed. Key among these, as recently highlighted, is the lack of involvement on the part of the laity.
Many people have wrote to tell us, "We're interested in world evangelization. What can we do?" I know other agencies face the same question daily. So, here's a 10-step program for getting involved in world missions. If we all widely promoted this program and challenged uninvolved Christians to adopt it, we could see a radical change in the nature of world missions in just a few years.
1. READ THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A MISSIONS VIEWPOINT. Search out the Scriptures where God told us to be a blessing to the nations. Examine each passage from the light of our command to spread the knowledge of God. Take notes on your thoughts on each chapter. Ask your pastor and your close friends for their thoughts as well.
2. TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE MISSIONS ENTERPRISE. Attend a Perspectives course. Read a new biography of a missionary every 3 to 6 months. Begin building a library of books that deal with the real lives of missionaries and the problems and victories of missions. Hunt for videos that highlight mission events.
3. DEVELOP FRIENDSHIPS WITH MISSIONARIES. Go to the special meetings your church calls for missionaries passing through. Invite missionaries into your home and ask them about their lives. Take up a "pen-pal" relationship with missionaries: writing them, encouraging them. Commend missionaries to other people you know.
4. BECOME ESPECIALLY FAMILIAR WITH WORLD A. You don't have to be an expert, but you can learn some basic things which will help you better understand the area. Take the time to memorize the names of the countries. Learn their locations, their relative sizes, religious compositions, significant barriers to the Gospel, key prayer points. Keep a list on paper of at least 1 key ministry in each country. Examine your newspaper for news items on these countries.
5. PRAY DAILY FOR WORLD EVANGELIZATION. Using all of this information, include the World A countries in your daily prayers. Use a prayer guide like "Operation World." And especially important: have a daily devotional time with your family which includes prayer for World A.
6. TAKE AT LEAST ONE SHORT-TERM TRIP. Make a commitment to take at least one short-term missions trip to World A. For example, consider prayer walks, Bible courier trips or medical assistance trips. Pick a trip where you will be of the most help with the least possible imposition on missionaries in country.
7. GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR CHURCH'S MISSION COMMITTEE. If your church doesn't have a mission committee, then ask for permission to form one. Offer to serve on the committee, or offer to help in some way. Support the mission committee by commending their efforts, supplying them with information, and helping to publicize the mission efforts of the church. Encourage them to consider every aspect of world mission--both cross- cultural and the support of indigenous missions.
8. LEARN WHAT YOUR DENOMINATION'S MISSION BOARD IS DOING. Get on your mission board's mailing list--nearly all mission boards have a publication, but not all churches or members of the denomination automatically receive it. Find out what sort of opportunities are offered through the board. Promote opportunities and events of the board at your church. Encourage other church members to learn about their foreign mission board.
9. RECRUIT SOMEONE EVERY MONTH INTO MISSIONS AWARENESS. Make a point of meeting with one fellow Christian every month and introducing them to the great task of world evangelization. Tell them about what your church and denomination are doing to advance the cause. Encourage them to become involved.
10. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO CONSIDER MISSIONS A VIABLE CAREER. So many times we think of missions as a "second-rate" career--one with little opportunity for advancement. In reality it is the most important thing we can possibly do. It is the command Christ left us with. We must do everything we can to encourage and support our children's exploration of missions as a potential long-term career, and especially encourage them to at least take a few short-term trips.
With more than 60% of the worldwide Body of Christ completely uninvolved in evangelism and missions in any way, we need to recruit more laity--especially our youth--into active participation. Promoting this or similar lists through our own lives and to our circle of friends could make all the difference in whether closure is reached.
Suggestions
1. Implement this list in your daily life.
2. Publicize this list in your church bulletin.
3. Develop posters, illustrated with graphic arts, which can be distributed as reminders.
4. Build sermons around this list, advocating your congregation to greater involvement.
5. Publicize this list in magazines and newsletters.
6. Translate this list into other languages for redistribution.
