missions is for everyone

the church is misionary in nature. missions is the task of every member, not just a few. in the early church, missions gave rise to theology. missions isn't just one subject in a seminary curriculum; it lies at the heart of all subjects. missions is what makes theology relevant. it's what make seminaries relevant. it keeps seminaries and churches from becoming inward-looking and self-absorbed-which is a good definition of putting one's lamp "under a bowl" (mt 5:15)...

Jesus told us to "go." first to jerusalem, then to judea and samaria, and then "to the ends of the earth" (ac 1:8). this means that all christians are to go and be witnesses-to their families, to their neighborhoods, to their cities. in other words, all christians are called to be "missionaries" in the broad sense of that word. this is terribly important. the word "missionary" means "one send on a mission." every christian is sent into the world on a mission...

...the value of our work is not based on whether or not we have crossed geographic or cultural boundaries; it is based on our love for Christ and our obedience to Him. very simply, the call is to all, and it is to all places where God has need of us, whether it be in "jerusalem," "judea and samaria," or "the ends of the earth."

on being a missionary, by thomas hale