“Here I am, Lord. Send me.” — Isaiah 6:8
Missions is not just for missionaries or boards like Biblical Ministries South Africa, or even those serving in unreached parts of the world. It’s the responsibility of every single believer. Whether you’re a teacher or a business person, a stay-at-home mom or a retiree, God has called you to participate in the Great Commission in a way that fits your unique gifts and circumstances. Individuals can embrace this call while remaining in step with their local church. Missions begins with worship, thrives in community, and demands action.
A Heart of Worship Fuels the Call
The prophet Isaiah’s famous words, “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8), came after a gripping vision of God’s unmatched holiness and his own unworthy state. If you have caught a glimpse of the glory of God and the worthiness of his character, regarding who He is, and recognising how He deserves to receive all of the worship, then you are ready to say to the Lord, “Here I am, send me!” So God’s call is towards every single believer. True missions begins in the same place for all of us—with a deep awareness of who God is, and a heart surrendered to His purposes.
Romans 12:1–2 urges believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, transformed by the renewing of their minds. This spiritual act of worship is the basis for discerning God’s will—including His will for us to participate in His mission to reconcile the world to Himself. He has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation, making us ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
The Local Church: God’s Sending Base
No believer is meant to pursue missions in isolation. God’s design for missions flows through His Church. The mission unites us as believers–being of one mind, one heart and working toward the common goal. We are called to serve in partnership with and through our local churches.
A healthy, gospel-centred church equips its members for ministry (Ephesians 4:12) and becomes the launching pad for missions. Ensure you are in a church where the Great Commission is prioritised, and then prioritise your local church life as a believer, where you can truly worship the Lord and be involved in God’s mission in this world. It is from your faithfulness to your local church that you may be called to greater tasks of faithfulness to our Lord.
5 Ways Every Believer Can Participate in Missions
- Pray
Prayer is not a backup strategy—it’s the backbone of missions. The Apostle Paul regularly pleaded for the prayers of the churches he wrote to, and James 5:16 reminds us that the effective prayer of the righteous can accomplish much. We may not all go to the mission field, but we can all intercede for missionaries, unreached people groups, and gospel efforts worldwide.
- Give
Financial partnership is a vital part of missions. In Philippians 4:16–18, Paul praises the Philippian church for supporting his work, calling their giving “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” What’s noteworthy is that the apostle Paul is addressing the whole church at Philippi. That means that this was a church-wide decision to support the Apostle Paul. By partnering with missionaries and mission organisations as a church, we can contribute directly to the spread of the gospel, enabling the whole church to have a significant impact through a collaborative effort.
- Go (Short-Term Trips)
You don’t need a lifelong calling to experience missions. Short-term trips offer a window into cross-cultural ministry and are a great way to encourage long-term workers and deeper engagement back home. Even visiting missionaries your church supports can profoundly bless and motivate them.
- Consider Career Missions
Some are called to full-time mission work. If that’s you, start by speaking to your church leaders. No one should go without being affirmed, equipped, and sent by a local church. Character and connection to the church matter, and are essential to the calling. Missions organisations, such as Biblical Ministries South Africa, can then come alongside you and your church to help prepare you for the field.
- Be an Advocate
Missions needs voices. Raise awareness, host events, and stir passion for the nations within your local body. Keeping the church’s vision and activities focused on the Great Commission requires constant, intentional effort.
Overcoming the Common Hesitations
“I’m not qualified.”
God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. Which one of us truly is adequate for this task? We desperately need the help of the Holy Spirit in any act of obedience towards the Lord Jesus. If we are to engage in missions, we must recognise that it’s He who works in us. Like Moses, who said, “My mouth can’t even speak while I stutter,” God says to him, “I’m the one that made your mouth!” (Exodus 4:11) And so this is a reminder to us. Do you have a willing heart to say yes to Jesus? Then be faithful with the little that He gives to you, and over time He will give you more with which to be faithful.
“Will my effort even matter?”
Remember the boy with five loaves and two fish (John 6)? Jesus multiplied his small gift to feed thousands. And in the same way, God can use our contributions to accomplish far more than what we can imagine. Just say “yes” to Jesus.
“Isn’t missions just for overseas work?”
Missions begins at home in our own communities. Acts 1:8 provides a model for witness that starts in Jerusalem (your community) and extends outward. Your family, neighbours, and coworkers are a mission field too.
An Emphasis on the Local Church
The local church is essential for fostering missions. We read in Ephesians 4:12 that it’s our pastors and teachers who provide training and equipping of the saints. The church provides opportunities for service and discipleship and sends out missionaries with prayer and financial support. They provide accountability for missionaries. Being under the authority of the Church ensures that missions-focused efforts remain Christ-centred and Biblically sound.
Missions is a cooperative endeavour. The Church sends, supports, and holds accountable. We have a beautiful example of this in Acts 13:1-3, where the church at Antioch sends out Paul and Barnabas. This wasn’t an individual decision, but a spirit-led commissioning by the local church. Similarly, every believer’s involvement in missions should be connected to and supported by their local church. Your role may be in praying, giving, going, advocating, or being sent—but the call is clear: you are part of this mission.
Final Challenge: Say “Yes” to Jesus
Pray about how God may want to use you in the mission field, speak with your church leaders, commit to exploring more opportunities to give, advocate or participate in short-term or even career missions. Ask yourself: “Am I willing to say, ‘Here I am, Lord. Send me’—wherever that may be?” May the Lord bless you as you step out in faith, join hands with your church, and live out your calling in the Great Commission.
Biblical Ministries South Africa has free workshops for churches and church leaders in the areas of evangelism, developing a missions-mindset, establishing your vision and mission and developing leaders. We’d love the opportunity to come alongside you as you grow in the Great Commission. Contact us to get started!
