“Jesus loves you”, an often preached and spoken phrase that rings like a slogan for Christians. Rightly so, God loves us so much that He gave us His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus came to the world to save us through Him. This is one gospel that we can stand on.
Since God loves us so much, what should be our response to His love?
To answer this question, let us consider the purpose of the gospel or Good News. This Good News is of no use if it only stays in the hearts of believers. It cannot be any Good News if it is not brought to those who have not heard them. It will not only be Good News but the Greatest News if the whole world hears it. This news is not only good and great—it is the Truth. When the Truth is heard by those who have yet to know Jesus, it can transform hearts to believe in the One who is the perfecter of our faith and lead them to call Jesus their Lord and Saviour.
“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!’” (Rom 10:14–15).
In 2 Corinthians 5:19, Paul wrote that God wants to reconcile the world to Himself in Christ and He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. As ambassadors of Christ, we are to be those beautiful feet that would bring the gospel message to the lost to implore them to be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20).
Jesus’ parting shot for us before His ascension in Matthew 28:18–20 has never been clearer. If anyone is still asking for God’s will for his/her life, look no further: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19).
Make no mistake, this command termed the Great Commission is meant for everyone who loves God and calls himself/herself disciples of Christ. If we can have this passion of Christ, then “Jesus loves me” would be personified when we put that phrase into action to bring others to Him and impact their lives forever.
Christ also gave us two commands: to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:36–40), as a guide to our daily living for the purpose of our discipleship.
If we obey the two Great Commandments and the Great Commission out of our love for Jesus who first loved us while we were yet sinners, then we live a God-pleasing life of discipleship that does not take Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins for granted. You would be on mission for God.
So what is missions?
It is God’s mission to reconcile men to Himself. From the book of Genesis to Revelation, the same narrative of God wanting to make men His disciples is unmistaken. This is the Missio Dei and we are commanded to partner Him in this work.
Therefore, missions is an extension of God’s love for the world through the Church. Missions would be our act of love as well as an act of discipleship.
Wesleyans, let’s go over to the other side! Will you heed the call to bring light to the lives of those who still live in darkness?
How can each one of us partner God in His Mission in Wesley?
In Wesley, we have many ways for everyone to participate in missions. Our platforms are spelled out in our Missions Policy to provide support to both full-time ministry and short-term trippers. We support both clergy and laity—just about anyone who is available to do God’s work in the missions fields.
1. Full-time Christian vocation
If God has called you into full-time Christian vocation, Missions Comm will come alongside you on this journey, beginning from discernment to nurturing, preparation and sending you out into the field. We provide care and spiritual support for all our missionaries and missioners while they are out in the missions fields. The church also provides financial and ministry support to ensure that you are not alone. If you sense a calling, if you have a local or cross cultural ministry, the church is prepared to journey with you to discern that call and support you accordingly.
1.1 The church supports the following missions platforms:
a) Traditional church planting missionaries are set apart by the Holy Spirit to enter into a cross-cultural environment to spread the gospel.
b) Itinerant missionaries are those called for ministry overseas, but for special reasons cannot be in the field for a long continuous period. The church may support you for shorter stints in the field.
c) Tentmakers serve as missionaries while working full time in a foreign land. They could be residing in the country for study, marriage or any other reason. Their purpose is to make Christ known cross-culturally.
d) Missionary interns are persons who seek to make Christ known or embark on missions endeavours through a specific vocation via a short-term attachment with a Christian organisation, either outside or in Singapore for the purpose of exploring the possibility of long-term vocational service in or with a Christian organisation. Such a period could range from three months to a maximum of 24 months.
e) Missioners are those who serve in Singapore with Christian organisations for the purpose of doing missions at our doorsteps.
f) Business as Missions is not a new platform. It is an opportunity for business people and entrepreneurs who would like to incorporate Christian values and ethics into their businesses and would like to go into cross-cultural communities to use their businesses to minister and impact the life of the local people. It is combining business and ministry together to bring the love of Christ to those who have yet to experience it. This can be a useful platform anywhere but especially handy in Creative Access Nations.
2. Theological studies
If you would like to pursue a course in Christian theological studies with the purpose of entering a full-time Christian vocation, the church has the means to support you with financial assistance. You must be convicted of God’s call and demonstrate spiritual gifts consistent with your calling.
3. Missions trips
Some of us may not receive the call into full-time Christian vocation but have the heart to go on short trips to minister the love of Christ to people. If you belong to this group, come and join other trippers to neighbouring countries. There are vast opportunities to use your skills to either provide a service to impact lives or just bring the love of Christ to others. Missions trips may range from a few days to six months to approved locations or people groups outside of Singapore for the purpose of exploring potential opportunities for sharing the gospel, serving through missions-related activities or assessing the needs of the fields or people groups.
4. Caring for our Christian workers and theological students
Missionaries, missioners and other Christian workers and students need a lot of care as they serve in their respective fields. Missionaries are usually all alone braving cultural differences, languages and practices that are very different from their own. Living in an environment out of their comfort zone can be very stressful. You could be involved in missions by stepping out to care and advocate for them. Be there to look after their physical and spiritual welfare. Well-cared-for missionaries can then focus on giving everything to the kingdom work in the fields.
5. Pray
Be prepared to pray for our missionaries. Missions cannot happen without prayer. The spiritual welfare of our missionaries is as important as their physical needs. They are fighting not against flesh and blood, but against the forces of the principalities (Ephesians 6:12). Adopt our missionaries and give them your spiritual support through prayer; you can do that individually or as a small group.
6. Sacrificial giving
Steward the blessings that God has given you by giving sacrificially to the work of our missions. Your gift will bless our Christian vocationers as well as the missions fields in more ways than can be imagined.
Conclusion
Statistics from the Joshua Project1 indicate that as of today, there are 17,442 people groups in the world of a population of 8 billion. Of these, there are 7,385 unreached people groups, or 42.3 percent comprising a population of 3.4 billion people. We need Christians to spread the Good News and bring light into others’ lives. In addition, these unreached people groups lack followers of Christ and resources to evangelise their own people .
Going to “the other side” is about revealing God to the nations who have yet to know Christ. It is seeing nations filled with the knowledge of God and bringing the kingdom of God from heaven to them. Then, we will see the Glory of God revealed in them.
Each one of us must partner God in His Missio Dei. Each one of us is called to do missions. This is a mandate. This is a command. This is the will of God waiting for us to obey.
Each one of us can do missions. Be available!
1Joshua Project is a research initiative seeking to highlight the ethnic people groups of the world with the fewest followers of Christ. Accurate, regularly updated ethnic people group information is critical for understanding and completing the Great Commission.
Read also: A Trip Filled with Fun, Friendships, and an Awakening of Faith; Over Zoom, a Missions Project Teaching English Continues
