What is Long-Term Missions Really?

Missions seems to be a bit of an enigma. Most people know what missions is, but few know what missionaries do. This could be because each missionary they talk to seems to be doing something different. And some are even missionaries within Wichita, Kansas!

It has become a Black Box  within the Christian Church. I'm fairly confident that we can all give the answer that mission work is telling others about Jesus/the Gospel, but I would be hard pressed to find a more specific answer.

In reality, the answer is quite simple on the surface, but complex enough to take a lifetime to understand in every context. But I believe that within every country, area, and place, missions has two core components.

Component 1: The Gospel

 

Mission work with out the Gospel is humanitarian work at best, and more likely Christian Tourism.  If your "mission trip" does not include Gospel-centered preaching, then, you are not really doing Christian Missions.

You see, the goal of missions is to fulfill the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20.

          Then Jesus cam to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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." (NIV)

Missions strives to fulfill that commandment. Now, it is often thought that the command "go" is the main part of the verse. But this is simply incorrect. The main verb is "make." Missions--in essence--is making Christians. That's how you can be a missionary no matter where you are.

Component 2: Serving Others

 

The thing that really throws mission in for a loop is serving others. This will look different everywhere. Some places need clean water, and some don't. Wichita is one of the biggest sex trafficking cities in the U.S., so serving others could look like opening your home as a safe house for those trying to get off the streets. Serving others could looking like being a foster parent. It could like translating the Bible into a different language. It could be teaching people who are illiterate. It could be any number of things!

There are so many different ways in which to serve others. But one thing I know for sure--Christianity is to be a servant. Paul [the apostle] often starts off his letters with the phrases: "Paul, a servant of Christ" or "Paul, a slave of Christ." It is even further highlighted in Philippians 2: 5-7a.

          Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature with God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. 

If God himself came to serve, how much more are we to serve!