Why Global Health Mission Trips are Important

Like a stone hitting the surface of a pond, Jesus described concentric circles extending the reach of the gospel. Over the next 2,000 years, Christian missionaries from all countries and denominations have taken the message of Christ from their personal Jerusalems to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). What began as the opening act of the Christian church has resonated across time. Things have changed a lot since the first century, but the truth of the gospel—and the role of Christian missionaries in sharing that truth—has remained a constant for the kingdom. If you are considering joining the ranks of Christ-centered missionaries, you are preparing to join a long thread weaving through church history.  And it’s important that you know just how that thread has touched the lives of millions.   To the Ends of the Earth The story of Jesus’s missionaries begins in the book of Acts. As noted, Jesus challenged His followers to take the gospel from the confines of Jerusalem to the outlying areas of Judea and Samaria. Ultimately, the goal was to hit Rome and the furthest reaches of the known world.  Acts 1:8 presents the mission. The rest of Acts explains how it happened. Early on, believers stayed close to Jerusalem, but a massive wave of persecution caused Christians to scatter (Acts 8:1). That’s how God got originally moved His people into Judea and Samaria. It’s also how He started the church’s missionary work. Christian missionaries like Philip shared Jesus’s message to the north in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and to the south in Gaza (Acts 8:26-40). Before becoming a Christian, Saul chased Christians as far as Damascus in Syria (Acts 9:1-8), while Peter witnessed a Roman centurion in Caesarea (Acts 10). Later, after accepting Christ, Saul ministered in Antioch, a Gentile city that was among the largest communities in the Roman Empire (Acts 11:19-26). It was from there that the Holy Spirit called him to become a missionary for Christ and to take the gospel to Rome and beyond (Acts 13–28). This zeal for Christian missions essentially defined the first three centuries of the early church. Even in the face of persecution from Jews (who served the law), Greeks (who served idols), and Romans (who served the emperor), the church grew.  But around 313, something shifted. Emperor Constantine revoked laws against Christianity. This new openness actually worked against the church and its missionary movement. Outsiders entered the church because it was convenient or somehow beneficial. This led to deeper heresies, which forced the church to focus more on theology (what to believe) than on missions. In a sense, Christian missions lost a measure of urgency while church councils took priority.   The Politics of Faith Constantine’s edict also strengthened the connection between churches and states. In some areas, the Christian faith became institutional rather than personal, which also served to water down Christian missionary efforts. In other areas, monasticism transformed faith into an inner discipline rather than something to be lived out before the world. Meanwhile, kings and armies began adopting Christianity as a sort of “good luck charm.” As a result, missionary work became synonymous with wars and conquest. Soldiers saw themselves as Christian missionaries, “converting” every land they defeated.  However, the important work of genuine Christian missions never stopped. For example, after the fall of Rome, new missionary activity was initiated to evangelize the barbarians who now controlled wide swaths of the old empire. God also used Christians who were taken captive and enslaved by pagan armies to evangelize nations that had no other knowledge of Jesus and His work. One British missionary named Patrick had such an impact on the spiritual life of Ireland that it became a missionary launching pad for centuries.   The Printing Press and the New World When Johannes Guttenberg invented the printing press in 1462, he didn’t just open the door for the widespread publication of Bibles and religious literature. He also encouraged Christian missionaries to embrace new technology in sharing the gospel. Eventually, the printing press—along with the Protestant Reformation—sparked missionary efforts across Europe. In time, those sparks jumped the Atlantic and stoked a flame in the Americas. Both Catholic and Protestant missionaries embraced the opportunity to minister in the New World. In North America, the primary focus (along with exploration) was evangelizing Native American tribes.  But America was not the only focus. Many nations, like England, sent the ancient equivalent of “marketplace missionaries” to other nations. These individuals were trained in matters of business and trade, but they were also trained as Christian missionaries who could share the gospel as they fulfilled their secular duties.   The Advent of Modern Missions Within two centuries of the Protestant Reformation, Christ-centered missionaries were using a new tool for spreading the gospel. Groups of believers began coming together to form mission societies. In modern terms, these became the first sending agencies in the history of Christian missions. The first recorded agency (founded in 1701) carried a ponderous name: Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Despite the complicated name, it set about the business of sending missionaries to America (like John Wesley in Georgia) and across Europe.  Other agencies focused on Africa and Asia. For instance, William Carey—commonly known as the “Father of Modern Missions’—joined the Baptist Mission Society and traveled to India in 1793. Less than two decades later, in 1812, Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice became the first Americans to travel overseas as Christian missionaries when they went to Asia. The middle of the 19th century also saw the rise of denominational sending agencies in the United States.    Setting the Stage for Today During the 20th century, new missionary organizations were founded, many with a focus on challenging young adults to serve. Groups like Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Campus Crusade for Christ (now called Cru), and Navigators continue to have an impact on the kingdom through their missionary emphases. History also has repeated itself as Christian missionaries have consistently found ways to leverage technology. Marketplace missionaries in careers like media, aviation, sports, medicine, and Bible translation have opened doors that once were closed.  Missions research has revealed new trends to make missionary work more effective. For example, the rise of large urban areas has led to a shift in how some missionary organizations determine their strategy. We also use terms like “indigenous leadership” and “unreached people groups” to define target audiences.  We focus on the “10/40 Window” to describe a large area between the 10th and 40th parallels that includes places like North Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and China. These areas claim nearly half of the world’s population but have experienced limited gospel penetration because of the powerful influences of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and atheism.   God is Still at Work Of course, this is a quick review of just a few of the highlights of Christian missions, but one thing remains clear. Throughout history, God has continued to call and equip Christian missionaries to fulfill His purposes. The God who empowered Paul to take the gospel from Antioch to Rome is the same God who guided William Carey to India and Hudson Taylor to China. He is the same God who led Jim Elliot to South America and inspired Bill Bright to found Campus Crusade for Christ. If you believe He is calling you to follow in their footsteps and to fulfill the Great Commission as a Christian missionary, you can trust that He is with you, as well.   Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.

What is missionary work?  That’s a fair question, especially if you believe God may be pointing you in that direction. While it’s great for you to consider a life of missionary service, you need to know what you’re getting into—and what your options might be. To start uncovering an answer to any question, it can be helpful to go back to the basics. And for the question What is missionary work?, the basics are found in the Gospels and in the book of Acts.   The History of Missionary Work During His time on earth, Jesus gathered a group of followers for a three-year intensive in ministry education. That education included opportunities to take the message of His kingdom to surrounding cities (Mark 6:7-13). Those early efforts had positive results, even if His disciples were often a step or two behind what Jesus was trying to teach them. Then, just before He went back to heaven, Jesus provided the marching orders for His people until He returned. Their job was to make other disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) and to take the gospel to ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Over time, early believers like Philip (Acts 8:26-40) and Peter (Acts 10) stepped outside their comfort zones and shared the gospel with folks who might have been considered outsiders. Christian missionary work took a huge step forward when the church at Antioch felt the Holy Spirit leading them to commission Saul (later known as Paul) and Barnabas to extend the reach of the gospel across the Roman Empire (Acts 13:2-3). In fact, the rest of Acts narrates Paul’s missionary journeys as he literally took the message of Jesus to Rome, the boundary of the civilized world at the time.   Mission Work Today For Paul and those early Christians, the question of What is missionary work. Involved some serious thought and prayer. The leaders in Antioch even spent time fasting before they were sure they’d heard the Spirit correctly. They took missionary work seriously—and so should we. Today, missionary work might look different than in the first century. But we can still identify some common denominators to help us understand and embrace what missionary work is. Here are five basic elements you can think through as you consider the question What is missionary work? means to your life.   Learn more about Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.   Missionary work involves sharing the gospel. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it really is important to understand. You cannot know what missionary work is all about apart from the gospel: the good news that Jesus lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again to offer eternal life in Him. A lot of humanitarian organizations do some great things at home and abroad; but unless their primary goal is to share the gospel, they’re not really doing missionary work.    Missionary work can be domestic or international. You might naturally think of a believer who travels to another country to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And, in a sense, you’d be right. A lot of Christian missions do focus on international work.  But you don’t always need a passport to do missionary work. Many missionaries minister right here at home. God knows that the needs in our nation are just as powerful as the struggles of individuals across an ocean. So, in His grace, He also calls missionaries to work for Him in domestic contexts.   Missionary work can be a career or a short-term endeavor. Just like location, missionary work can also vary in duration. Some believers find their answer to missionary work in moving their families overseas.  While they may serve as a pastor, doctor, or teacher, they truly are career missionaries. On the other hand, other believers find great joy in taking regular short-term mission trips. They serve for weeks or maybe months instead of years. They may travel to same region on every trip or visit many nations over time. Whatever the specifics of their experiences, God uses these short-term missionaries to make a big difference for His kingdom.   Missionary work can involve traditional ministry or marketplace ministry. When Paul went from one town to the next, he had a plan. He shared Jesus in the Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath and shared Jesus is public spaces during the week (Acts 17:16-18). Along the way, he preached and planted churches all over the Empire. That’s traditional missions work—believers preach, lead Bible studies, plant churches, and do personal evangelism where God plants them. It’s a tried and true method that God continues to bless today. But other missionaries minister in the “marketplace.” They aren’t necessarily preachers or church planters. They serve as teachers, medical professionals, pilots, relief workers, business leaders, or in any number of “secular” jobs. They use their skills in a particular career field to build relationships and earn a hearing for the gospel.   Missionary work can be in the field or in support. You probably understand how being in the field could teach all you need to know about missionary work. But you may not realize that behind every missionary—whether domestic or international, career or short-term, traditional or marketplace—stands a support system that breathes life into their work. It could be a prayer network back home, partners from a mission sending agency, or a list of financial backers; but those individuals working behind the scenes are doing missionary work that is just as critical as what the actual missionary does on the field.   Something to Think About in Missions Of course, these five elements are just the beginning of your quest to figure out what missionary work could look like in your life. You also need to spend time in prayer, asking God to give you wisdom and direction. And you need to make sure you have these three issues settled: 1. You must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You cannot lead people down a path you have never walked yourself. 2. You need a clear calling from God. This includes an internal sense that God is setting you apart for missions, along with the external affirmation of leaders you trust and the church you attend. 3. You need a plan for training and education. Christian universities, sending organizations, and missions programs can help you in this area; but you need to do all you can to prepare for what God has for you. Missionaries are disciples who lead others to become disciples. They are called by God to fulfill the Great Commission in a unique way. And if God is calling you to move in that direction, He will equip and empower you to make it happen. You might not have all the answers right now. But, in time, He will let you know how the question What is missionary work? finds its resolution in your life.   Discover Medical Missions. Medical Missions serves to connect your professional skills and biblical calling to the largest database of healthcare mission organizations, professionals, and thought leadership. Join us at the Global Missions Health Conference to find your Medical Missions calling. Or, browse our full list of partner organizations to find the right mission for you.