How Can We Be Involved In Christian Missions?

** by Robert & Dara Peh **

Many Christians think that mission work has nothing to do with them, simply because they are not called to be Missionaries. Some of the common misconception are: I am not mission-minded; I don’t know much about missions; I am too young; I am too busy to be involved in any church activity, much less in missions; I am not called to be a missionary; etc. However, are these excuses justifiable? Is it true that only those Christians whom God has specially chosen to be Missionaries can contribute to missions? How about the others who do not receive such a calling? Can they also play a part in the work of foreign missions? The answer is obviously YES. Let me therefore, suggest three ways in which we can all be involved in foreign Christian missions, which is expressed in this saying, “All can pray, most can give, some can go.”

All Can Pray

Like what was said above, you may not have a special missionary call like the apostle Paul (Acts 13:2-4), but you still can play a part in Missions and that is to pray. Jesus says, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).

It is encouraging to know that the harvest of souls is plentiful, but the problem is that the labourers are few. So, what should we do? Should we ask the church to send out more missionaries to do the work? What did Jesus say, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Hence, this is what we should do. We should pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out workers into His harvest fields. When God sends His labourers, He always sends the right person for the right job. Therefore, let us be committed to pray for missions.

Missionaries need very much the prayer support of the church. It can be said that the successfulness of the missionaries depends very much on God’s working in and through them and not on their own efforts to get the work done. So, how should we pray for missionaries? Let me propose three aspects, that derived from the apostle Paul’s request of prayers for himself.

Firstly, we can pray that the Lord will remove all obstructions that will hinder the work of the Gospel and that the Word of the Lord would spread rapidly in the mission fields, and that it will be received and obeyed by the people. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul says, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.”

Secondly, we can pray that the Missionaries will be empowered by God to declare His Word fearlessly. In Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul says, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Thirdly, we can pray that God will provide many opportunities for the Missionaries to preach the Gospel, and that God will grant them the ability to proclaim the message clearly as they should. In Colossians 4:2-4, Paul says, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”

The above are just three biblical examples of how we can pray for the propagation of the Gospel in the mission fields. Besides these, we can also pray for the needs and safety of the Missionaries, which can be known through their prayer letters. We can therefore contribute to missions by giving as much prayer support for missions as possible. Will you then pray?

Most Can Give

Besides prayer support, most of us may have the means to give to missions, as the Philippians who gave and supported the apostle Paul in his gospel work (Philippians 4:15-16). There are a variety of ways in which we can give to missions. It can be financial support, moral support or other material support.

As for the giving of money to support missions, we need to understand that the biblical injunction of giving is in these words, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

This verse teaches us five things about giving. (1) It speaks of the giver – “every man”; (2) it teaches concerning the amount to give – “according as he purposes”; (3) it expresses the manner of giving – “in his heart”; (4) it addresses the attitude of giving – “not grudgingly, or of necessity”; and (5) it explains the reason – “for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Hence, let us give freely and willingly to the work of missions as the Lord enables us, for it is said in the following verse that “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Will you then give?

Besides money, we can also give moral support to Missionaries. This can be done by sending cards, letters or e-mails to the Missionaries to express our love and concern towards them and their ministries. Some may even plan to visit them on the fields. Such a support is indeed significant because to many people, out of sight is equivalent to out of mind. Hence, if the Missionaries were to receive mails from their friends back home, they will be comforted that they are not forgotten.

There are other material support which we can offer to missions, such as usable clothing, toys, Christian literature, books, visual aids, typewriters, computers, software, and other electrical appliances etc. However, before we give such items to missions, it is advisable to find out first whether or not the Missionaries need them.

Some Can Go

There are those who are specially called of God to give their lives to missions. These are life-time Missionaries. Some of the most essential qualifications of a Missionary are: (1) he must be a born-again believer; (2) he must be a mature Christian, who is grounded in the Word of God, in order to equip himself for the task, and at the same time, desires to grow in the knowledge of the Scripture; (3) he must be willing to be used of God and to go wherever the Lord leads him; (4) he must be physically fit to do the job and has the ability to endure hardship, as well as to adapt to the environment; (5) he must be a responsible person; and (6) he must have a heart of love for people.

However, it is not surprising to know that many people are willing to give their money to missions but not themselves, nor their children. Nevertheless, short-term mission trips are so common now a day that anyone of us can just avail ourselves to serve the Lord as short-term missionaries. Will you go then?

As Christians, all of us can be involved in missions. You may be the one whom God has set apart for the work of missions (Acts 13:2-4). Will you then obey the voice of the Lord and say, “Here am I; sent me” (Isaiah 6:8)? Let us therefore be responsible to play our parts in missions. All can pray, most can give, and some can go. However, if you cannot go, you can make it possible for those to go whom God in answer to prayer, would send forth into His ripe harvest fields. Will you do it?