THE LEADER’S ROLE IN MOBILIZING THE LOCAL CHURCH IN GREAT COMMISSION COMPLETION
WORLD MISSIONS
World Missions start with individuals who disciple individuals, who in turn disciple churches to reach the uttermost parts of the world. We can see examples of this like Samaritan Purse. Digging wells for those less fortunate in other countries, and through giving to the basic needs of those who have not adequate clothing, food, or water. World missions start with individuals, moves through congregations, congregations connect with other congregations all over the world, and we need one more entity a world missions program like one of the fore mentioned organizations to be effective.
If we use the same model of selection, association, consecration, impartation, demonstration, delegation, supervision and reproduction to build a world mission model, what could it look like?
First we would need to build a network for a Mission Alliance. This could be done by associating with other local churches and building partnerships with churches, individuals, and mission organizations. Once we have built a relationship with these agents, we would then consecrate them for action by imparting a missionary strategy which would include the information needed to become a well effective team to reach the world. Once you have built an effective organizational outreach program for world missions, one could take that model and start it in another location. The program could then be imparted, demonstrated, delegated, supervised, and reproduced to be another effective organization or organism for Christ.
Recently I saw a program for mission which helped finance the installation of wells. The slogan was “Every Drop Counts”. Some churches got together and brought the information to their congregation. This resulted in money being raised for hundreds of wells overseas. This is just one way to access geographical locations where the gospel needs to be proclaimed.
In our self-centered churches of today it takes effort to begin to mobilize a congregation to begin to go out, instead of just throwing out money to support mission needs. Money helps, but the laborers are few. We need to pray as Jesus said, “The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).
We need laborers to go out into the harvest before the harvest rots. This and other statements like:
“Go, send, or disobey.” — John Piper
Charles Spurgeon also said: “Someone asked ‘Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved?’ It is more a question with me whether we – who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not – can be saved.”
These are quite convicting and may stir the hearts of some for a while, but for how long?
I also found this quote by Winter (1995), “Wouldn’t it be better to awaken one hundred sleeping firemen than to hopelessly throw your own little bucket of water on a huge fire yourself?” Mission work takes team work on all levels; from the individual, the local church and surrounding churches to remote churches and mission organizations. When you have a well-built team for Christ our Coming King we will truly be as Paul declares in First Corinthians 12:14 and 27 “For the body is not one member, but many” “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (KJV). We are not the body of Christ if we are just an eye or foot because we could not be effective without the whole body of Christ functioning for His will. Jesus came to save the sick and the lost and “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 KJV).
The C & MA motto for mission is Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (KJV). Every Christian is called to go by the Great Commission and we should all be stirred up to see Jesus coming again. I also like Titus 2:13 where we are to be focused on looking for the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. But the surrounding verses make our lifestyle and work real as they say, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14 KJV).
I pray that all Christians would indeed be zealous of good works which would produce an effectual working for the outreach to all nations and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we can usher in His Shekinah glory, participate in the harvest and see His glorious appearing. In Jesus name. Amen.
In Christ,
Greg