By Scott Logsdon
As a church leader, one of the most important ways that you can create a culture of mission in your church is by modeling and valuing mission. Your people will take their cues from what they hear you say and what they see you do. The more you talk about mission and go on short-term trips for gospel outreach, the more the church will see that you, as their leader, value it and will begin to value it themselves as well.
Here are three ways to create a culture of mission in your church.
1. Pray
Prayer should be obvious, but oftentimes we overlook the most obvious things we can be leading our people to do. Connect with missionaries your church supports and pray for their specific needs. Regularly pray for missions opportunities and missionaries in your worship gatherings and Bible study times. Print these needs on cards that your church members can take home to pray for these people during family mealtimes or daily devotions.
2. Preach
Churches that have a strong culture of mission also have a strong understanding of the gospel. Regularly preach and teach your people that the mission is God’s mission, the mission is the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the earth, and the mission is primarily given to and accomplished by the church. Share stories from the missionaries you support of how God is moving and working among different cultures around the world.
3. Support
There are three primary audiences in international missions: gospel ministers, unreached people and places, and those who have not yet heard or responded to the gospel. Your church may support one or more of these audiences by giving their time, talents, and resources or by going on a short-term trip to use their gifts and abilities to support missions projects and share the gospel.
As you create a culture of mission in your church, do so in such a way that helps to develop the hearts of your church members. Those who love God and follow Him will show their closeness to Him by how their values and desires align with His values and desires. Church members who care deeply about mission will care that God’s name is honored throughout the world and that the needs of the lost are met in the gospel of Christ.
Adapted from Training Pathway: International Missions. Check out more training videos on Ministry Grid.
Scott Logsdon, PhD, and his family served among Muslims and led twenty-six church-planting teams in five countries. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, where he serves as the associate vice president of training for the International Mission Board.
