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Written by Sparky Pritchard Monday, 09 November 2009 11:05

Missions Conference is behind us … but missions commitment is before us.  What will we do with what we have heard?  What is the next step that each of us must take to become more missions minded?  Those who were part of the early church were intensely missionary in their thinking.

Philip Schaff, the renowned church historian, wrote an eight-volume set of books covering the entire sweep of church history.  Here is his assessment of what those first Christians did in their outreach and growth in the gospel.

“Christianity once established was its own best missionary.  It grew naturally from within.  It attracted people by its very presence.  It was a light shining in darkness and illuminating the darkness.  And while there were no professional missionaries devoting their whole life to this specific work, every congregation was a missionary society, and every Christian believer a missionary, inflamed by the love of Christ to convert his fellow men.  The example had been set by Jerusalem and Antioch, and by those brethren who, after the martyrdom of Stephen, were scattered abroad and went about preaching the Word.… Every Christian told his neighbor, the laborer to his fellow laborer, the slave to his fellow slave, the servant to his master and mistress….”

Is this same passion and commitment evident among God’s people today? Listen to the heartfelt concern and honest assessment of missionary doctors Tom and Cynthia Hale.

“Our major concern relates to the level of discipleship we have observed during our travels: we fear it is too shallow…. During the past generation, the worldwide evangelical church has experienced unprecedented growth; in terms of the plain numbers coming to Christ, nothing like it has been seen before.  But in the midst of the good news, there are troubling signs that many of these new believers are continuing to follow Christ primarily for what they can receive, rather than for what they can give….

“We have … a lingering sense that some … rapidly growing churches are placing more emphasis on drawing people in than sending people out.  They have been placing more emphasis on the blessings of following Christ than on the cost.  The ‘hard’ teachings are downplayed; it’s as if there is a fear of scaring people away….

“The main work of the church is to prepare those who are being drawn in to then be thrust out into the world as witnesses….  The question is often asked: ‘How can we recruit more long-term missionaries?’  The answer, we believe, is for the churches to place greater emphasis on discipling their members, on challenging their members to deny self, to forsake all, and to follow Christ with no conditions or limitations – in other words, to ‘sell out’ to Christ.”

Take seriously the words you have heard from our missionaries during our conference.  Pray earnestly for a fresh vision for those who need the gospel.  Witness faithfully wherever you find an open door to share God’s love.