3 Reasons We Are Called to Do Mission Work
When I was in college, I minored in Intercultural Studies, which is just a fancy phrase for mission work. My missions professor was monumental to my growth as a Christian and he truly fostered a love for mission work in my heart. Because of his mentorship and discipleship, I was certain I wanted to be a missionary upon graduation. With everything I learned at college, I was also confident I had the skills needed to be a missionary and take the Lord’s Name to all nations.
Sadly, I am not on the mission field today due to many factors. For one, mission agencies want you to be entirely debt-free, including no student debt, and in perfect health, including your mental health. Lastly, they also require you to be great at raising funds, which is something I have never been good at. With all these factors on the table, I hit a major roadblock.
I have not been able to do missionary work due to not being debt-free, not having perfect health, and not being able to raise funds successfully. As one could imagine, this has been very frustrating. It has moved me to start talking more about missionary work, my love for it, and how it is for all people, regardless of their debt situation, health, or fundraising abilities. When Jesus called us to take His name to all nations, He didn't say only a select few should go. Rather, He said everyone is to go: “Then Jesus came 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’” (Matthew 28:18-20).
With this in mind, let’s discuss the importance of mission work and three reasons we are called to it.
1. It Is Commanded (Matthew 28:18-20)
As discussed above, Jesus commands us all to take the gospel to different nations. He instructs us to baptize and disciple those who accept the gospel. Notice when the Lord gives us these instructions, there are no exceptions. The Lord has commanded all of us to go and spread the gospel across the world.
Simply because someone has debt or a hard time fundraising does not mean they are not qualified to share the gospel and complete the mission the Lord has set out for us. Unfortunately, the biggest roadblock for most of us as Christians is mission agencies and churches. If we don’t meet their standards, they will not back us for mission work or allow us to travel.
If you have already faced this as well, don’t allow it to stop you from doing what the Lord has commanded. Even if these roadblocks have prevented you from going, it does not mean you will never have a chance to do mission work. An alternative that has been proposed in recent years is Business as Missions (BAM).
I learned about BAM during undergrad, and it has quickly been gaining traction for those who choose to do mission work in an untraditional way. BAM focuses on the missionary getting a job in a foreign country, working, and paying for their own needs. They complete mission work in their daily life by shining bright for Jesus, sharing the truth of the Lord at work, and being true missionaries in word and deed.
Joining a church or starting a house church are all options for someone who chooses to follow the path of BAM. While it is not as financially secure as going with a mission agency, it is still a great option for doing mission work. If someone would like to do mission work in this way, they need to first pray about it, listen to God’s guidance, and complete all the necessary steps to obtain a working visa, a job, and citizenship in that foreign country.
2. The Need for Missions (Romans 10:14-15)
The Apostle Paul tells us directly about the need for mission work in Romans 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
As Paul says in this passage, how can the lost call on the one they have not believed in or heard of? Moreover, how can the lost believe in Jesus or hear about Him unless someone is sharing the gospel with them? Paul also pushes the truth further when he asks, “And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?” From these truths, we see that the gospel cannot be taken to the lost unless there are missionaries.
Missionaries are those who bring the good news to the lost world. This is why we must stop overlooking the importance of mission work. Thousands of people die each day without knowing the Lord. These individuals never had someone share the gospel with them. And how could they? If nobody stood up to be a missionary, how could the lost world ever hear the beautiful truth of the gospel?
As believers, we need to be open to the call to go ourselves. Embarking on mission work can be frightening, but it is something we have all been called to do. Since we are believers, we have the responsibility to take Jesus’ name to all nations.
3. It Is Our Responsibility and Privilege (Acts 13:47)
Acts 13:47 says, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” As this passage tells us, the Lord has made us a light for the Gentiles. The purpose of this was to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Upon reflecting on this passage, it should move us to action.
We are Jesus’ followers, and we need to obey His teachings. It is our responsibility and privilege to share the gospel with all people groups. Rather than viewing mission work as something to be dreaded, we need to be thankful for this blessing from God.
Imagine if you lived in a reclusive neighborhood where nobody had ever heard of Jesus. You would be without hope and struggling in the world. Wouldn’t you want someone to come and share the gospel with you? This is why we must go to all nations and help them come to know the Lord.
Once we have shared the gospel with someone, we need to ensure that they are being discipled as well. Doing mission work is not just sharing the gospel and then leaving the country. Rather, it is a long process that requires us to build solid relationships with the people in the unreached area.
Mission work is not a one-time event or reserved for a select group of people. It is our responsibility and privilege to do mission work and help others come to know Jesus.
“Dear Lord, please help me to be faithful to You by doing mission work. Although it can be scary, I know it is what you have called me to do. Please prevent any roadblocks in my way and help me to spread Your Name to all nations. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/mirsad sarajlic
Originally published February 13, 2025.
