Mission: noun

An important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel.

A group of people taking part in such an assignment.

Missionary: noun
A person sent on a religious mission, esp. one sent to promote Christianity in a foreign country.

(Google definitions)

Christian missionaries are usually thought of as those who leave their home and go to a particular place or culture to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Of course, each of us is called to share that good news wherever we are; but those who leave family, friends, and the familiar to devote their time, talent, and resources to share the gospel with others deserve our support, our prayers, and our admiration.

Jesus himself encouraged his followers to take his message from their nation to the world. In the familiar language of the King James version:

Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel… (Mark 16:15)

More specifically, just before his ascension to the Father, Jesus said:

“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Following this commissioning, Jesus’ disciples and their followers in turn, began the process of taking the message of Jesus Christ throughout the world. And that work continues today.

But not all mission work requires a permanent change of country, culture, and language. The book of Acts records the rapid spread of the gospel through the world, sometimes by those who settled in new areas and adapted to a new culture, and sometimes by those who traveled from place to place.

One of the world’s greatest missionaries, the Apostle Paul, skillfully used itinerant ministry to greatly expand the reach of the gospel. He sometimes stayed in a location for two or more years, but usually a much shorter time—sometimes only days. But God used him to plant churches, to train ministers, to establish elders, to reach entire cities, and to impact the world. Much of the New Testament consists of his letters of encouragement and teaching to young Christians and fledgling works established during his travels.

Some of the methods Paul used in his ministry were these:

· He always took young men with him, to train and mentor.
· He encouraged those already in ministry wherever he went.
· He usually stayed only a short time in each location.
· He maintained relationships in many places, and continued to have involvement in the ministry in those places through writing and short visits.
· He involved people in each place with ministry in other places, sometimes by taking someone with him, sometimes by raising funds in one place for ministries in other places, and by giving reports of his travels to believers wherever he went.
· He sought the prayers of Christians everywhere for his work and for believers in other places.
· He recognized that he was only a witness; that the work was the Lord’s.

Today, this kind of itinerant ministry continues in many forms. From youth short-term missions—which are often a means of challenging young people to a life of service while meeting practical needs around the world—to more mature, intentional ministries with long term accountability and relationships in multiple areas. Individuals and churches can have major and lasting impact by partnering with ministers, long-term missionaries, and churches in other nations. While it may be different individuals who make the trip from time to time, the sense of relationship from church to church can be strong and meaningful.

I am sometimes asked, “It costs lots of money to make these mission trips, and there are qualified people there already. Why not just send the money? Wouldn’t that be more helpful?” But that would be somewhat like telling the grandkids, “Don’t bother coming this Christmas; just send the presents.” It’s not the stuff we want—even if it is useful stuff; it’s the relationship.

As this article is posted, a grandson and I will be enroute to Romania and then on to Kenya, where we will join Pastor Steve Fields and two other men and three other teens. This is a relationship and encouragement mission. Pray that this project will impact the young people traveling with us, and simultaneously be a genuine encouragement to the people and the churches we visit.

…For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

-Paul to the Roman church; Romans 1:11,12