I recently visited a small but powerful church with my wife, Martha.
With fewer than 150 people in regular attendance, this congregation punches far above its weight when it comes to missions—sending out eight missionaries and faithfully supporting several more.
We love ministering in every kind of church, but we get particularly excited when we see ordinary and sometimes unassuming churches giving and going so faithfully and sacrificially.
In fact, it’s often the smallest congregations that we’ve seen have the biggest global footprint for missions. It reminds me of Paul’s words to the Corinthians—that God uses what the world sees as weak to reveal his wisdom and strength to a world in need (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).
Yet for as mighty as the local church is, she cannot do everything on her own. Pastors, elders, deacons, lay leaders, and missions committees are not omnicompetent. The local church needs trusted allies to help send and support missionaries well. That’s why my team and I rejoice in the privilege we have to provide these churches’ missionaries with help in training, securing visas, raising financial support, and multiplying their global impact.
This issue of Message is dedicated to these ordinary churches that take the bold step to send. We’re celebrating the calling and commissioning of new missionaries—men and women of diverse backgrounds and varying levels of field experience joining us in taking the gospel to the nations.
Each sent worker represents an answer to prayer and a new laborer in the Lord’s harvest (Matthew 9:38).
This issue is also a reminder of why we send. Because past missionaries have gone, the gospel is already being proclaimed in cities, villages, and homes that would otherwise never hear the good news. Because churches have sent, new congregations are being planted and leaders raised up in places once barren of gospel witness.
Each story begins with a sending church, big or small, choosing to step out in faith and entrusting their beloved missionaries to God’s care. And behind each of those churches stands ABWE, committed to serving, equipping, and multiplying their obedience.
Together, we are seeing the gospel advance to new horizons. Thank you for playing your part in this mission.
