Missionaries

Missionaries come from churches. Churches are where missionaries are saved, where they are discipled, and where they minister. The process of sending a missionary is quite simple, but quite extraordinary. With the Apostle Paul, he was saved, trained by the Lord in the desert for three years, and then joined Barnabas in Antioch. Acts 11:26 says that “a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people.” Following the year of teaching and ministering, the church at Antioch sent the pair to deliver a love offering to the church at Jerusalem (Acts 11:29-30). When they returned, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:1). The church fasted and prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them away.

Who does a church send as a missionary? From the above passages, we see several benchmarks for potential missionaries: the ability to teach the Word of God, faithfulness in preaching the gospel and in discipling believers, and faithfulness to fulfill ministry responsibilities. The missionary and his wife must have a desire for this kind of ministry; and then the church, being led of the Lord, sends him and his family. The missionary does not send himself; the church sends him. When the church approves, greater ministry takes place in another location for the glory of God.