If you agree that strategic missions starts with focusing on the greatest needs in the Great Commission …<\/p>\n
If you think we need to be about making disciples among those people groups who have not yet had access to the Gospel …<\/p>\n
How does that happen?<\/p>\n
The people groups who have yet to be reached with the Gospel are usually isolated from the rest of the world. They may live in remote villages, cut off by mountains, jungles, swamps, rivers, or even all of the above. Or they might live in regular contact with other people, but be separated by culture and language.<\/p>\n
Missionaries need to go and live with them, build relationships, learn their culture and language, and teach them God’s Word. But …<\/p>\n
How does that happen?<\/p>\n
Who helps these people find out about their opportunities to be part of such work? Who trains them, so they are not each repeating mistakes, but are all building on lessons learned? Who helps keep the supply lines and communication lines open, from churches in their home countries, to the countries where they serve, and even to the remote villages where they work?<\/p>\n
If we want to be strategic about missions, we have to look at the big picture of what is necessary to accomplish our purpose, the Great Commission. We need to understand that logistical roles are no less important than the so-called “front-line” roles.<\/p>\n
That’s not popular. Most churches and individuals would rather be able to say they’re involved with a missionary who is planting a church, instead of a missionary who “just” makes sure thousands of missionaries receive the funds that have been donated so they can carry out their ministries, or who “only” writes software that saves hundreds of missionary teams countless hours of work. And that should help you see the problem with that line of thinking. It’s not strategic; it’s prideful.<\/p>\n
Ouch! But think about this a moment. I would rather be out there planting a church in a tribe. I think all of us in logistical, behind-the-scenes roles in New Tribes Mission would really rather be out in a tribe. But we’re all willing to put our own desires aside in order to serve God wherever He wants us. <\/p>\n
Is the call on you and your church any different? Shouldn’t you get involved in ministries that are involved in planting churches among people who haven’t yet heard the Gospel, regardless of what or where those ministries are?<\/p>\n
In fact, wouldn’t a truly strategic missions approach go even further?<\/p>\n
Most churches and most believers take a small-picture view of missions, so they mostly – or only – get involved with “front-line” missionaries. Someone has to take part in the ministries of logistical missionaries who make that work possible. Wouldn’t a truly strategic approach to missions focus on those logistical missionaries?<\/p>\n
If you truly want to be strategic in missions, you need to be sure the resources that God has entrusted to you are being invested in ministries that are necessary in order to plant churches among people who have never heard the Gospel.<\/p>\n
But let’s not stop there. How far does strategic involvement in missions take you?<\/p>\n
Read Part Four: Effective ministry >><\/a><\/p>\n Haven’t read part one or part two yet? Go back and take a look:<\/p>\n