It was theirs for the taking. So Moses, at God’s prompting, sent a dozen spies into the Canaan to explore the land God promised to give to Israel.  But God never promised Moses that taking the land would be easy. Canaan was filled with powerful people and fortified cities.  Ten of the spies weighed the risk and decided it wasn’t worth it. Two, however, Joshua & Caleb, were men of courage, faith, and faithfulness.  God had promised them that land. God had instructed them to take it.  “Let’s roll” they said. “We should go take posession of the land. We can do it.”  (Numbers 13)

You may be in a similar situation. You may not have thought about it this way, but that is the scenario facing everyone selcted to serve on the missions committee of thier church. 

God the Son has issued a mandate for world evangelization. (Matthew 28.18-20) He intends to claim the hearts and lives of men & women, boys & girls, from every Tribe on earth.  He has promised to supply the power. (Acts 1.8)  He has guaranteed ultimate success.  Still, the task ahead is not easy.  The faithful will experience all kinds of obstacles and opposition. And just like Joshua & Caleb, some of that opposition will come from inside the camp, from those who are commissioned to partner with you, but who are too timid to carry out the mission.  Completion will take courage, commitment, and sacrifice.  It requires faithfulness.

So yo are a Joshua or a Caleb. You are on the missions committee, and you are determined to take the lands. You are just not sure exactly how to go about it. It’s a big job. What does it entail? Where do you begin?

It is important to remember that all Christians are called to the advancement of the Gospel to all Nations. This task is not the responsibility of a select few who serve, whether you volunteered or you were appointed by their church, as a missions committee.  Missions is not one ministry among many in the church.  Mission, along with worship, is the essence of Being the church. And every church member has a role, whether they are Go-ers, Senders, and/or Mobilizers.

The task of the missions committee is to facilitate the work of global missions in the church through leadership, evaluation, administration, and delegation of the various tasks associated with cross cultural ministry.  

The following list is an overview of the roles of the mission ministry.  It takes into consideration mission ministry strengths identified by mission mobilization network ACMC, but I have consolidated them into more manageable categories.  A healthy missions ministry will include every category.  However, no church can be equally great at all possible functions within each category.

Strategy

Every church must have a clear strategy that recognizes its responsibility to participate in the completion of the Great Commission, and the specific ways it will participate to accomplish that task. Simple mission involvement, while good, is not an adequate objective. 

Strategy of the church includes: Adoption of Unreached Peoples; Sending Structures; and Partnerships with Agencies and or Nationals.

Mobilization

Mobilization is active involvement toward accomplishing the remaining task of the Great Commission.

There are various roles (i.e. Go-ers, Senders, Mobilizers), various levels of readiness, and different callings among church members.  In other words, it is rare that someone will be called and prepared for career missions without having initially taken short term mission trips. On the other hand, most who go on short term trips will never be called to career missions.  Appropriate entry and preparation levels need to be offered.  And church members should be encouraged and expected to discern his/her own role in the task of reaching the Nations. 

Mobilization means getting increasing numbers of people to actively carry out their distinct role. Mobiolization means equipping them to do so.

Mobilization includes: Short Term Cross Cultural trips; Encouraging Tent-making; Adoption of Unreached Peoples; Training Candidates; Strategic Partnerships; Prayer; and Ministry to Internationals.

Care

Missionary Care focuses on caring for the missionaries, both on the field and while at home on Home Missionary Assignment, or HMA. (NOTE: This used to be referred to as Furlough).  It also applies to caring for those who are in preparation for career mission.

This is one area I anticipate our church, Walnut Hill PCA, should excel in as we grow in our missions ministry. One of the great strengths of our church – perhaps the greatest strength – is the way the people love one another.  Missionary Care is simply an extension of that love.  And this practical love is part of our mission.  Paraphrasing Francis Schaeffer: “The way we love one another is a demonstration of the Gospel we proclaim.” (John 13.34-35) 

Practical means of Missionary Care includes: Caring for Tangible, Emotional, and Spiritual Needs; Communication with Missionaries; Holistic Prayer; Funding & Support; Visiting Missionaries on the Field.

Education

Education is teaching people about God’s heart for the Nations and about the Great Commission. It keeps people informed about what God is doing around the world. It is the reminder of the remaining task. And it is the equipping of each church member to carry out his/her particular roles.

Means of Education include: Missions Conferences/Festivals; Classes & Seminars; Publications; Hands-on Experiences;  Training & Preparation for Short-term and/or career missions.

The Scope of Missions Education should include the whole church. Intentional attention should be given to Children, and to Teens, who are preparing to make life decisions.  But most adults also benefit from missions education. 

Administration

Administration is dealing with all the behind-the-scenes details of missions, and management of this ministry.  This is an important aspect of Mobilizing.  And each of the above categories requires some level of administration.

Pertaining to the missions committee, Administration includes: Policy Development; Job Descriptions for committee members, and others who serve specific functions (i.e. Missions Conference Planner); Communications with Missionaries; Missions Budget Preparation and Management; and Vetting & Selection of Missionaries to be supported.  

The task of taking the Nations for Christ through missions may seem like a battle agianst giants.  But remember, you are not doing it alone.  If each church plays its part there will be a great army advancing the Kingdom of God’s Grace.  There are more than 600 Evangelical churches in the world for every Unreached People Group.  If every church – if even a significant minority of those churches – gears up for the task, missions experts tell us that the completion of the Great Commission can very definitely be accomplished in this generation!

Pray that God would give you the spirit of Joshua & Caleb.  They recognized the strength of their opposition and the difficult battles ahead of them.  But they also knew that God would empower them to do whatever he called them to do.