Christian missions refers to the organized efforts of Christians to spread their faith and provide humanitarian aid around the world. The primary aim is to convert non-Christians to Christianity and plant new churches. Missions work involves evangelism, discipleship, training of church leaders, social service, education, healthcare, economic development, and more. Here is an overview of key aspects of Christian missions:
Biblical Basis
The Bible provides the theological basis for missions. Jesus commanded his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This Great Commission gives believers their marching orders to spread the gospel worldwide.
Other verses that shape the biblical theology of missions include:
– “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
– “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'” (Romans 10:14-15)
– “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
– “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The biblical basis establishes missions as an integral part of the Christian faith, not an optional activity. Every believer is called to participate in spreading the gospel in their local context and around the world.
History of Missions
The history of Christian missions stretches back 2,000 years to Jesus and the first disciples. Here are some key events and figures:
– The early apostles spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Paul took several missionary journeys to plant churches.
– In the 4th century, Ulfilas was sent as a missionary to the Goths, translating the Bible into Gothic.
– Nestorian Christians brought the faith to China and India in the 7th century.
– In the 13th century, Franciscan friars traveled to the Middle East and Mongolia.
– The age of discovery in the 15th-16th centuries opened new avenues for missions.
– Key Catholic missionaries included Francis Xavier and Matteo Ricci. Protestant reformers sent missions too.
– In the 17th-18th centuries, Puritan and Pietist Protestants established societies to support missions.
– William Carey promoted modern Protestant missions starting in 1792.
– In the 19th century, missionaries went to Africa, Asia, and the Americas in great numbers.
– North American missionaries like Adoniram Judson, David Livingstone, Hudson Taylor, and many others made an impact worldwide.
– Today South Korea, Brazil, China, and African countries are major missionary sending nations.
God has used many ordinary yet courageous people over the centuries to carry the gospel to new lands and peoples.
Missionary Calling and Training
A missionary calling begins with the Holy Spirit placing a burden on a believer’s heart to reach those who haven’t heard the gospel. Prayer, wise counsel, research, and training will help confirm the calling. Formal education at a seminary or Bible college helps equip missionaries for cross-cultural ministry. They study theology, missions, evangelism, discipleship, church planting, cultural anthropology, a new language, and more. Some agencies provide additional training for the specific locale.
Characteristics of effective missionaries include:
– Deep relationship with Christ
– Commitment to God’s Word
– Lifelong learner
– Cross-cultural sensitivity
– Emotional maturity
– Teachable spirit
– Perseverance through hardship
Medical doctors, nurses, pilots, IT professionals, engineers, teachers, agriculturists, and those with many other skills are needed to serve as missionaries today.
Mission Strategies
While showing Christ’s love in practical ways, missionaries aim to communicate the gospel in a way the local people can understand. Strategies include:
– Learning the language and culture
– Building relationships
– Starting churches using “people groups” that have affinity
– Discipling new believers
– Training local leaders and pastors
– Providing humanitarian aid as needed
– Developing oral communication methods
– Using radio, social media, and other technologies
– Translating the Bible into local languages
– Focusing on the strengths of the local culture
Methods must be adapted to the specific cultural context.
Challenges in Missions
Missionaries face many challenges like:
– Culture shock
– Lack of home comforts
– Communication issues
– Safety concerns and persecution
– Difficult travel
– Illness
– Raising funds
– Political turmoil or restrictions
For all the difficulties, missionaries aim to maintain a spirit of joyful sacrifice, stay focused on Christ, and trust God’s plan when discouraged.
Global Christian Mission Efforts Today
The global need for Christian missions remains immense today. Consider these estimates:
– 7.8 billion people in the world
– 2.5 billion identify as Christians
– 1.2 billion have likely never heard the gospel
The Joshua Project lists around 17,000 “unreached people groups” globally that are less than 2% evangelical Christian. These groups total 3.1 billion people. example groups include:
– Shaikh Muslims in India (10 million people)
– Persian Muslims in Iran (9.5 million)
– Northern Pame in Mexico (45,000 people)
– Yemba in Benin (380,000)
– Burmese in Myanmar (4.3 million)
While anyone can participate in missions, career missionaries focus full-time on spreading the faith across cultures. In 2010, there were about 400,000 foreign Christian missionaries worldwide. The United States sends the most career missionaries, followed by Brazil, South Korea, India, and Nigeria.
The mission field includes both rural villages and urban centers. Cities hold strategic importance due to population density and influence over a whole region. Migrant populations are also important targets for missions.
In addition to conversions and baptisms, missionaries establish networks of house churches, train leaders, provide humanitarian aid, use media, and more. Numerous large ministries and local churches support missions work.
Issues and Controversies
Missions have been controversial at times, facing criticism from both non-Christians and Christians. Issues have included:
– Forced conversions and coercive methods
– Tension with colonialism, imperialism, and slavery
– Introducing western culture versus valuing indigenous cultures
– Self-serving attitudes of superiority or glory-seeking
– Health risks from contact with isolated tribes
– Disrespecting other religions
– Creating dependency on western funds and leadership
In response, modern missions aim for sensitive cross-cultural methods, train local leaders, work for social justice, focus on service, and seek humility and grace.
Key Missions Passages in the Bible
Here are some important Bible passages about missions work:
– Matthew 28:18-20 – The Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
– Acts 1:8 – Missionary focus spreading out from Jerusalem to the world.
– Romans 10:14-15 – Need for preachers sent out so that people can hear the gospel.
– John 20:21 – As the Father sent Jesus, so He sends out the disciples.
– Mark 16:15 – Proclaim the good news to all creation.
– Luke 24:47 – Repentance for forgiveness must be preached to all nations.
– Isaiah 6:8 – Isaiah’s willing response to be sent as God’s messenger.
– Psalm 96:3 – Declare God’s glory among the nations.
– Acts 13:1-3 – The early church fasts, worships, and sends out Barnabas and Saul.
– Matthew 9:37-38 – Pray for workers since the harvest is plentiful.
– 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 – Paul’s missionary identification with others to win them.
– Philippians 1:3-5 – Partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Conclusion
Christian missions is an integral part of living out the Great Commission and spreading the gospel worldwide. Throughout history, missionaries have taken great risks and made sacrifices to carry the message of Christ to new cultures and lands. Much work remains among thousands of people groups with little access to the gospel. Missions will continue to adapt methods to each context while relying on the unchanging truth of God’s Word.