By John Meriweather, VP of Global Operations

In a world inundated with noise and distractions, the profound truth that those saved by Christ are also sent to share his message often gets lost in the shuffle of daily life. The essence of Christianity lies not merely in personal salvation but in the transformative journey from redemption to responsibility, from being rescued to becoming a rescuer. Consider the words of Jesus to his disciple after his resurrection and before he ascended to heaven:

– John 20:21 “…As the Father has sent me, I AM SENDING YOU.”
– Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES…”
– Acts 1:8 “…YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus has not only saved us but he has sent us to serve his mission by proclaiming his glory and salvation to all people!

God’s mission is not a suggestion to consider but a command to obey.
Saved individuals are not mere recipients of a divine rescue mission but are integral participants in the ongoing narrative of God’s redemptive plan. In exhorting his followers to take up his mission, Jesus was not offering suggestions for us to consider but commands for us to obey. God chose, equipped, and commanded his followers to fulfill his purpose.

God’s mission is an interwoven theme throughout all scripture.
The entire narrative of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is God making himself and his mission known to man.
– As he chose Abraham to establish a new nation through whom “all the people on earth will be blessed.”
– As he spoke through the Psalmist to “declare his glory among the nations.”
– As we’ve seen through the redemptive work of Jesus who proclaimed his mission to his followers.
– As we read in the apostle’s letters to the churches that we “have been given the ministry of reconciliation.”
– As we see in Revelation 7:9, it culminates when one day “every nation, tribe, people, and language” will stand before the Lamb!

God’s mission is not just something we do; it is who we are.
In Christ we have a new identity aligned to a new purpose. Our identity is not based on what we do, it is based on who we are in Christ. In Christ our identity is tied to our purpose. Therefore, God’s mission cannot be relegated to a budget line item, a program, or an event. We are sent to live out our purpose every day, in all we do, in whatever way we are called, and wherever we are sent.

God’s mission was not given to a mission’s agency but to local churches and disciples.
I am proud to work for BMA Global where we exist to fulfill God’s mission to all nations. However, we do not do this in isolation but in partnership and on behalf of local churches. Local churches are both the source and goal of missions. It’s from, in, and through local churches that disciples and missionaries are sent, supported, prayed for, and served.

Saved people are sent people–sent to go, sent to give, sent to pray, sent to love, sent to share, sent to serve–all people – everywhere. In February 2024 the churches of the BMA will celebrate world missions and give to the Jerry Kidd Missions Offering. May God use this time to renew our hearts with a passion for his mission to reach every nation, tribe, and tongue.