Some thoughts gleaned from the book, “The Bible Bases of Missions” by Robert Hall Glover,
formerly Home Director for North America of the China Inland Mission.
Mission work did not originate with man, not even great missionaries as the Apostles, Paul, or modern-day men as William Carey. Missions started with God when he sent his Son into the world (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
2 Corinthians 5:19 “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”) Then Jesus sent his Apostles (sent ones) into all the world.
During the 40-day period between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, it was His last
opportunity of instructing, inspiring and preparing his apostles to go into all the world with His message. Therefore, the closing chapters of the four Gospels and the first chapter of Acts record Jesus giving his Apostles their marching orders. Mathew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them (Apostles) and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”
Jesus established His church on his words, “go make disciples,” He empowered His church with the promise “I will be with you always” and “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Every church today is the direct or indirect product of past missionary work of yesterday, and if a congregation fails to be involved in missions, it is out of harmony with God who first sent his missionary, Jesus Christ.