Living on Mission: An Invitation for All Believers

What does it mean to live on mission? For some people, the word “mission” immediately brings to mind vocational ministry in a third-world country with constant threats of disease, danger, and persecution. But others might consider themselves “missionaries” if they went out in public wearing a Christian t-shirt.  

The reality is, if you believe that Jesus’ last words to His disciples apply to all believers, then it is undeniable that all of us are called to live on mission by making disciples of all nations. In His Great Commission, Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20 

Living on mission by making disciples isn’t a special call for the faithful few. It’s a core expression of Christian identity. We, as Christians, express our identity in Christ toward the world through mission. This means at least the following five things: 

1. We Exist to Glorify God by Making Disciples Who Live Out Their Identity in Christ 

The above is Woodside’s mission statement, but we believe that this core purpose is true for all believers. We exist to glorify God. Our making of disciples is therefore an act of worship, as “…what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 

2. We Strive to Proclaim the Gospel in All Our Words and Deeds 

Missions does not exist apart from the Gospel. At the core of our call to make disciples of all nations is a message that we are to proclaim to the world: that God the Father sent His son, Jesus, into human history to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus died in our place and resurrected on the third day so that we can have salvation and forgiveness of sins if we repent and call on His name.  

The power of this Gospel message demands that we speak it boldly and live it faithfully. As the apostle Paul reminds us, “…whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17 

3. We Live on Mission Together as the Church 

Missions cannot be properly understood apart from its relationship to the local church. The local church is the primary means through which God has ordained that He would be glorified among the nations. Therefore, all missional activity should ultimately result in the strengthening and/or planting of local churches, “…so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 3:10 

Living on mission is not something you can or should want to do independent of the Church. As you share the Gospel and make disciples, you need brothers and sisters in Christ to go with you, to encourage you, and to hold you accountable along the way. Similarly, the new believers who you disciple need the Church to help them grow. 

4. We Pray and Mobilize to Reach Both Our Neighbors and The Nations 

Christ commissioned us to reach “all nations” with the Gospel. This includes all types of people, including your neighbors: classmates, teachers, coworkers, teammates, friends, family members, acquaintances, the people who live across the street, etc. 

But “all nations” also includes those who live in other parts of the world, who speak different languages and have different cultural practices than you do. Since the earliest days of the Church, faithful believers have been sent out by God, crossing geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers in order to make disciples and plant local churches. At Woodside, we call these people “long-term goers,” also known as missionaries, and we are committed to sending them out and supporting their work. 

Today, more than 3 billion people, about 40% of the global population, live without significant access to the Gospel. These people live in places with no churches and very few Christians, and many don’t have the Bible in their language. We call these people the “least reached,” and a large majority of them live in North Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. At Woodside, we long to see the world’s least-reached people and places reached with the Gospel, which is why we prioritize sending and supporting Christians into places where there is no church. 

5. We Go and Send in Response to the Great Commission 

The two basic responses to the Great Commission are going and sending. Sometimes people are tempted to limit their involvement to either going OR sending. But the truth is that there is room for all of us to go AND send in different, unique capacities. Writing a check to a full-time missionary doesn’t take away the opportunity you have to share the Gospel with your neighbors. Nor does joining a short-term team overseas mean that you can’t pray for and support the faithful ministry of your brothers and sisters at home. No matter who you are or where you live, there are opportunities for you to make disciples and help others do the same! 

Below, I’ve listed several ways that you can go or send in response to the Great Commission. As you read, I encourage you to prayerfully think about one thing that you can start doing today to live on mission alongside your church. 

GO to your neighbors. The first step towards making disciples of all nations is sharing the Gospel with your neighbors! Want to start a Gospel conversation but don’t know how? Consider one of the following conversation starters: 

• Is there any way I can pray for you? 

• Would you like to come with me to church, life group, or a Bible study? 

• Where do you find hope in this world? 

• Is there any way I can serve you and your family? 

GO to an international community. You might not have to move overseas to make disciples among the nations! Consider whether there might be any immigrant or international communities near you. Maybe you have international coworkers. If you live near a college or university, there are likely international students on campus. Many of these foreigners come to the U.S. from least-reached areas of the world. How can you make them feel welcome and open opportunities to share the Gospel? Here are some ideas: 

• Ask them questions about their culture and their family 

• Invite them to your home for a meal or a holiday 

• Invite them to church 

• Offer to help them practice their English skills 

GO to the poor. Jesus told us that whatever we do (or don’t do) for “the least of these,” we do to Him (Matthew 25:31-46). Consider how you can minister to the poor, hungry, sick, isolated, and imprisoned people in your community.  

GO short term. Ask your church what opportunities are available to join a short-term mission team. These teams are great opportunities to live on mission as we serve and support our brothers and sisters who are working and living in other parts of the world.  

GO long term. God may be giving you a desire to serve the Church vocationally. You might even sense a desire to serve long term among the world’s least-reached people and places! If this is you, be sure to make this desire known to your church and allow them to prayerfully help you discern where God might be leading you. 

SEND through prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the work of evangelism. He said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). Consider joining the prayer team for a long-term or short-term goer. 

SEND through giving. Are there any opportunities for you to give to a long-term or short-term goer? When we support those who go out to share the Gospel, we are “…fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 1:7-8). 

SEND through care. Goers need more than just financial support. Consider other ways that you can help care for them. An encouraging letter, regular phone calls, and letting them know when you’re praying for them can all go a long way. When a long-term goer is visiting your church, can you host them in your home, lend them a vehicle, or buy them a meal? Do they have practical or family needs that you can help meet? 

As Christians, we’ve been given an incredible invitation to take part in God’s mission to redeem the world! May God bless you as you seek to live out your identity in Christ toward the world through mission.