Taking the gospel to all nations in 2050

The immediate implication of Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28:16-20 is unavoidable and timeless for his disciples. Until Jesus returns, we are all on mission all the time. We are committed to lifelong disciple-making of people from all nations.

For many years Christians have left their homes to do disciple-making in other cultures and countries. As much as ever, we want to see this happening now and for years to come. And those who don’t go need to keep partnering with overseas gospel workers in prayer and finances. This is a timeless, generous and strategic commitment to the great commission.

I’ve been thinking about how to prepare ourselves for living out the great commission in the next few decades; particularly how younger people can be preparing now, whether they might live in Australia or overseas. This is what I have so far:

1. Personally partner an overseas gospel worker. There is no better way to keep our eyes lifted to the ends of the earth than to have our personal finances and prayers tied up with someone we know engaged in gospel work overseas.
2. Connect with other Christians when travelling overseas. International travel is increasingly common for holidays and work. When we travel, let’s look for opportunities to connect with other believers. We have full itineraries and want to prioritize the tourist highlights, but visiting a church service for an hour or so, even if we don’t understand the language, grows our personal connection to Jesus’ worldwide, multi-ethnic church, and we’re a little better equipped to pray for it and support it.
3. Connect with gospel workers when overseas. Visiting an overseas gospel worker in their own context helps us understand them and their work. With careful planning we can be an encouragement to them over a coffee, meal or prayer time. We could help with some tasks (e.g. maintenance or caring for their children for a couple of hours) without turning them into our ‘missions tour guide’.
4. Think creatively about world mission. Traditional mission models may not be the most effective strategies for gospel work in every corner of the world into the future. We need Christians who are thinking creatively about globalization, urbanization (around 1 billion people live in urban slums), technology and social media. We need creative strategies for work in regions that are too expensive or dangerous to sustain foreign gospel workers. Whatever course of study, training, profession or hobbies we are engaged in, we want to keep thinking how they might be used by God to advance the gospel to the ends of the earth.
5. Get equipped for world mission. A significant way to prepare ourselves (especially younger people) for world mission is to spend time with people from other cultures and learn another language. Over the next few decades almost all of us will be in regular contact with people who speak a language other than English.
6. Be a disciple-maker now. Keep on making the most of every opportunity God gives us for sharing Jesus with others and making disciples wherever we are right now.

These are the things I’ve been thinking through for how my congregation, family and I live out the Jesus’ command to make disciples now and into the next few decades. What else might we be doing? Share your ideas on the Facebook page or via Twitter.

Photo credit: m-louis