The Local Church
INCUBATOR FOR MISSION
By Steve Shank
The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few! How many times have we heard this echoed in mission conferences and from church pulpits? Where do laborers come from? Do we hope all have a "Damascus road experience" to fulfill the need? Isn't this the responsibility of the mission agency? What about the local church? What is the responsibility of the local church in mission?
My wife and I were part of a group that started a church. From there we went to graduate school and then to serve as missionaries in church planting among an unreached people group. Afterward we returned to Pennsylvania and started two churches. During this
time we helped our network of churches initiate a mission sending program. During this time I traveled throughout the world helping churches and networks of churches develop missions. Currently I am an administrator with a missions sending agency. I stated all
this can so you can understand. I've been a missionary; a pastor of a local church and an administrator in a mission agency. As a result of my varied involvement in the various
segments of the mission process I am convinced of the vital importance of the local
church. I'm convinced God desires to use the local church to reach the world.
I want to address the vital issue of laborers for the harvest field and the local church's
responsibility. My hope is pastors and leaders within the church will "catch" the
revelation of the important responsibility they have in world mission. I will outline seven responsibilities of the local church in calling and preparing laborers for the mission field.
#1 RECRUIT
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." Mt 9:37-38
Jesus personally called his disciples. Paul selected Timothy. Barnabus went after Paul to come to Antioch. The church in Antioch was gathered to hear and listen. God spoke and the church heard. Many people believe you get a call to mission through a direct supernatural experience. But in the Bible most were called when someone else tapped them on the shoulder. Leaders within the local church should be praying and listening to who God might call to be a laborer in mission. We should be tapping! When I was pastoring I used to approach people about the possibility of a call on their life to missions. Give them a book about mission or a biography about missionaries. Get them involved in short term mission trips. Who is better equipped to know of the potential of a person then those who interact and fellowship with them.
#2 DISCIPLE
"Prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ... " Eph. 4:12-13
The best place to prepare people for mission service is IN THE LOCAL CHURCH!! Not in seminary or college but in the local church!! Those institutes can help in specialized training but can never, never replace the local church in missionary preparation. I know of people preparing for missions in college or seminary who actually dropped out of local church involvement. Some go to our colleges and institutes of higher learning and actually lose their faith! How can you reproduce what you don't know! It is in the context of the local church where gifts are discovered. It is in the context of body life fruits of the spirit grow. It is here teamwork is experienced and developed. It is here the reality of the scripture, "as iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another," One learns how to interact with "brother or sister sandpaper!" The basic disciplines of prayer, study of the Word, and ministry one to another is basic to the local church. Discipleship is the foundational ministry of the local church.
#3 EDUCATE
"All scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16,17
Every local church can and should provide basic Bible foundations. How many times
have we heard the statement the school system is just an extension of what the student must learn at home! The same is true of the local church. Colleges, Bible schools, and seminaries cannot replace the education the local church can provide. A reading list of basic resources about mission should be available in every congregation. We need to
have missionaries and mission statesmen share in our churches, eat around our tables, and interact with those who we have tapped.
#4 COUNSEL
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as an overseer ... "
1 Peter 5:2
The local leadership needs to meet with the possible mission candidate. Help chart a
roadmap for development with sensitivity and flexibility. Not everyone needs the same areas of development. Be in their home. Have them in your home. If there is interest in a certain area of the world, arrange for them to meet with expatriates and/or nationals. Know their family, their marital relationship, and how they relate to their children.
#5 ASSIGN
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace." 1 Peter 4:10
There is no better place than to "test your wings" than in the local church. For those who are "sensing" a call to mission, assign them ministry responsibility in the local church. Whatever training the local church has, i.e. cell group training. etc. have the person involved.
I recall a young couple came to me as their pastor and they sensed a call to go to Brazil and work with youth. He was raised in Brazil. His parents had worked with Wycliffe. He spoke Portuguese. He already possessed many of the traits mission agencies desire! So I assigned him to work with the youth of our church under the direction of our Youth pastor. He and we discovered something very helpful. He felt called to youth but youth did not feel called to him! He never went to Brazil but worked in another type of ministry where he was very fruitful. A tragedy was avoided and he discovered his gifts.
Have the candidate work in various departments of your church i.e. in the nursery, with children's ministry, etc. with accountability and oversight. They need cross-cultural
ministry training. Send them to work in junior high! That's cross-cultural all the way!! Help develop their character. We want people with character on the mission field not characters! I once assigned a couple to work in the nursery. I noticed they always arrived late and left early. Of course this showed a weakness when assigned tasks or ministry they didn't like. Remember your helping develop fruits, servanthood, and character.
#6. EVALUATE
"And the things you have heard me say ... entrust to reliable, faithful men who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Tim. 2:2
Prayerfully consider the person during the development process. Don't be afraid to alter the "timetable" for leaving. There must be careful accountability. How does he work under authority? What happens when assigned a menial task or one not especially liked? The candidate will encounter authority and relationships wherever he goes. The local church is the best location to address these issues in a loving caring body of believers. You are looking for reliability and faithfulness. Don't assume anything!
#7. SEND
"After they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." Acts 13:3
The local church is best qualified to send. Not just release but send. Sending signifies a responsibility. When the local church commissions and sends it is
saying, "we have equipped you to the best of our ability; we agree your character and ministry gifts are proven." We are not to lay hands on people suddenly without "knowing" them. Sending involves relationship. The mission agency can and should not usurp the relationship and accountability developed between the local church and the person in mission. Sending involves substantial financial backing as well. We are sending "one of our own."
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Where will the workers come from? I believe the local church!! The local church can no longer second its responsibility. In fact her calling! It's not a burden but a joy! Where are the workers? They are in your pews! Ready to be tapped, equipped, and sent! Rise up, oh church of God. God desires to use YOU to reach the world!!
Steve Shank
Strategic Coach
HarvestNet International
All of the above should be done in an atmosphere of mission within the local Church. By this I mean every "department" of the local Church is praying for mission, engaged
locally and international in mission outreach; the youth are taking short term exposure
trips, and the Senior leadership is engaged physically and yearly somewhere in the world.
*I originally heard a message from Woody Phillips a missions pastor concerning the
local church's role in mission. I have added and adjusted the original message. But I desire to give credit to Woody for his inspiration!