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The church's mission to make disciple's of all nations is an endevour which has already lasted 2000 years and is not yet complete. With this in mind we should see that the Great Commission is a multigenerational undertaking which will continue until the Lord returns. Therefore, churches need to focus not only on doing missions work and sending missionaries, but also raising and preparing the next generation for that missionary work of taking the gospel to the unreached.

“How do we plant a church?” “The answer is as simple as it is difficult to actually employ: “We plant a church in the same way that we pastor a church. We do the work of an evangelist, we disciple converts in the context of a growing community of faith, and we train leaders until they are qualified to lead their own people as elders.” Missions are born out of the local church and with the purpose of establishing a church(es)…any other means or goal is not biblical missions…not primarily but exclusively the role of the church...parachurch ministries under the oversight of the local church can assist but is not the means...no other body has authority from Christ to send but the local church I. Identifying and Training Leaders: Moses-Joshua, Elijah-Elisha, Paul-Timothy…Seminary and Bible Schools can assist but should not be handed over totem (Matt. 9:36-38; Eph. 4:11-16)…Evangelist, Pastors, Teachers (church planter is the pastor of a young church) “Missionary work and theological reflection about the gospel depend on one another. Christian communities are, or become, centers of missionary work only if their leaders and their individual members are involved in understanding, explaining and proclaiming the gospel.” -Eckhard Schnabel II. Ordain, Send, and Oversee (2 Tim. 2:2; 5:22; Acts 13:1-4; 14:26-27)…Jesus was sent (John 3:16-17; Jesus sent Apostles/Disciples (John 20:20-21), missionaries are sent by churches today (Acts 13:1-4)…men that are qualified based on (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)… III. Sending and Caring: Financial Support, Prayers, Visits:  (Phil. 4:18; 3 John 5-8)

Opposition from militant Islam, infiltration of secular worldviews that permeate Europe and the US, the prosperity gospel that is spreading from the West into all parts of the world are all tremendous challenges that the churches face in fulfilling the Great Commission and participating in evangelism and the work of missions. Consider: There are 7.3 Billion people in the world. 1.4 Billion are significantly reached; 2.8 Billion have had minimal (inadequate) contact with the gospel; 3.1 Billion are entirely unreached with the Gospel (42%) However, there is every reason to be hopeful and encouraged when we open our Bibles and consider the words of our Savior! Jesus states He will build His church! Will you be used by Jesus to build His Church?