The Bible teaches every Christian has a missionary obligation
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From Luke’s Journal February 2024 | Vol.29 No.1 | Missions and Sacrificial Service
Mission is not our own idea, rather it is the mission of God. Christopher Wright (UK), in his book, “The Mission of God” concludes that the whole Bible is a ”missionalphenomenon.” Mission is “what the Bible is all about.”1 The Bible teaches that every Christian has a missionary obligation (Acts 1:8).
The word ‘mission’ comes from the Latin verb ‘mitto’ which parallels the Greek word ‘apostello’ meaning ‘to send’. Sending is the foundational principle in missions. God so loves the world that He sent His Son (1 John 4:9, 10). The Spirit sent by the Father and Son plays a vital role in missions (Acts 5:32; John 16:7). Christ sent the disciples to bring the good news to the ends of the earth (John 20:21). Today, we need more Christians to be go-ers (the sent ones). But we also desperately need more Christians to realise and fulfill their roles in the Great Commission as senders.
1. Why Do We Need Senders?
A. Go-ers and Senders are Partners of the Same Team
The missionary team is made up of go-ers and senders. Missionaries are important. But if no one sends them, they can’t go. According to Philippians 1:3-5, senders are partners in the gospel. Both go-ers and senders are called by God and are vitally involved in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Being a sender is, therefore, just as crucial as being sent.
It is interesting that in the Korean church, there are two words used for the missionary. One for the one who crosses culture to serve in another land, the going-missionary (가는 선교사), and one for those who stay at home and serve as senders, the sending-missionary (보내는 선교사). We are either a goer or a sender!
B. Goers need Senders
In every stage of the missionary’s life, there are physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs.2 Missionaries need the support of a team of people while they are preparing to go, while they are on the field and when they return home.
Secular example: It is said that in a secular war, for every one person on the battle front, there are ten others backing him up. Similarly, in mission, a spiritual warfare, can we expect to win with a ratio less than that?
Historical example: The Student Volunteer Movement was founded by college students in 1888. By 1945, the movement had sent over 20,500 missionaries.3 At the same time, there were over 80,000 mission-minded laypeople who pledged to support those sent out.4
Biblical example: Paul, the greatest missionary of the early church, needed a support team. On many occasions we find that he either asked or expressed thanks for their specific help: prayer (Eph 6.18 19); moral support (2 Tim 4:16); news (Phil 2:19); cloak and scrolls (2 Tim 4:13); financial support (Phil. 4:10-12); fellowship (Acts 14:26-28).
2. Biblical Basis for Senders
A. Romans 10:13-15
“ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 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!””
This paragraph describes in detail the process by which the gospel is passed on from those who believe in the gospel to those who still do not know the gospel. Can you see the logic revealed in these verses?
SAVED …. Call
Call …. Believed
Believe …. Heard
Hear …. Preached
Preach …. Sent
Send …. SERVING
AS SENDERS
It can be said that in missions supporting the GO-ERS as SENDERS is an absolutely necessary foundation.
B. 3 John 6-8
“ They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honours God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.”
These verses show the intimate relationship between the go-er and the sender. A go-er is someone who goes out for the sake of God’s Name (not for personal gain). A sender is someone who sends in a manner that honours God or that is worthy of His name. They are both concerned about bringing glory to God. Hence the two are fellow workers for the truth (v8). The key question is, if we don’t support and care for the missionaries we sent, who will (v7)?
3. Major Roles of Senders
Senders are those whose home ministry is directly involved in supporting specific missionaries. They see this as their strategic contribution to the overall task of world missions. Even though senders often serve on a part time, volunteer basis, they are involved in mission work as passionately as a front-line missionary. The sender is essentially a World Christian.
Even though senders often serve on a part time, volunteer basis, they are involved in mission work as passionately as a front-line missionary. The sender is essentially a World Christian.
Just as the go-ers, who bring good news, are those with beautiful feet (Romans 10:15), senders are those with beautiful hands: hands that pat the shoulders of the go-ers, hands that lift up in intercession, hands that provide practical help, hands that give financial resources, and hands that give a warm welcome back. These in turn relate to moral support, prayer support, logistic support, financial support and re-entry support. We will explore these key roles with their unique responsibilities in subsequent articles.
Apart from supporting specific missionaries, senders can be involved in general sending, in ways that serve the Body of Christ at large in advancing the global missions. Such sending is also strategic.
Calling for Senders
We rejoice that currently there are some fifty members and associates of CMDFA who have followed God’s calling to serve as cross-cultural workers across the world. We have the privilege to stand with them as they bring the gospel to the unreached and unengaged. We can serve as partners of their mission team by serving as senders.
Today no cross-cultural worker should leave home without an active team of people who have committed themselves to the work of serving as senders. You may be part of that team. Allow His Spirit to speak to your heart about your possible involvement in one of these areas of support. Serving as a sender can be a first step in missions. By serving as a sender, one can make a world of difference!
Rev Dr Calvin Ma
Rev Dr Calvin was trained in science and medicine at the University of Melbourne. He also studied theology at the Bible College of Victoria and served as a pastor for international students before joining OMF in 1993. He worked with Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) Korea for ten years, and in various fields, homes and international leadership roles within OMF. He is married to Joyce and they have two daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren.
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References
- Christopher J. H. Wright. “The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative” IVP Academics, 2006, p21, 22.
- Neal Pirolo. “Serving as Senders” Emmaus Road, International, 1991, p16-21.
- David M. Howard. “Student Power in World Missions” IVP, 1979, p97.
- Neal Pirolo. “Serving as Senders” Emmaus Road, International, 1991, p15.
