I agree that many pastors are not leading their churches to involvement in missions. I think your frustration might have to do with the pond you’re fishing in- the current SBC model is essentially outsourcing. Some pastors have had bad experiences with organizations like imb. Others are repelled by what seems to be a “You keep the money coming, we’ll get the job done” sort of attitude coming from the field. Not that these are valid excuses, though, for neglecting the mission.

I would encourage you to find the few churches that ARE motivated and involved and put the spotlight on them. The Upstream Collective does a great job of this, and I’m happy to be part of that. A lot of time and energy is spent trying to motivate churches that don’t get it. I think a better solution is to build up those that do get it, few though they may be.

By the way, I realize that it wasn’t the point of your comment, but I may not share your perspective on what is “strategic” or “most needed” regarding missions. I’ve written quite a bit about the “Missionary Task” and my belief that the “10/40 Window” is just marketing. I’d love to read your thoughts on that.

Thanks again for your comment. I appreciate the work you do.

As a former M and now missions pastor I have worked with the IMB for over 10 years seeking to mobilize churches and pastors to do, not talk about, missions. The vast, vast, vast, majority will not do it. I am so glad for the Jeff’s, the David Platt’s, JD Greear’s and others out there doing it. These are true men of courage. BUT they are the huge, gigantic, minority.

Jeff may be right in methodology but “encouragement is not moving pastors toward a biblical model for panta ta ethne.

Eric your statements are correct. I like the bluntness of what you say. It needs to be said. We always act as though all pastors are really wanting to do missions and we need to simply encourage them in this direction. It is not true, the majority have zero to little desire to do missions. Like the pastor of a mega told my IMB friend “Show me how missions can grow my church and we will do it.” That is the norm not the exception. Eric press onward !

My point in all of this is to say that those Christian leaders who are leading their churches in active involvement are the ones who are truly courageous. I think they’re also the ones who spend less time talking about how missional they are and more time actually being on mission.

Thanks for reading.

Jeff, I agree, there are many American pastors that are actively involved in missions. At the same time, I have never met one that was willing to sacrifice much of his church’s resources, including his own salary, for the cause of providing for people being sent out or current on the field.

Being a missionaries is simply drastically different than being a pastor, but most of the pastors I have met in my missionary journey are more interested in reminding all involved that the “local church” (insert “them”), is the entity that should have the authority over missions (insert “missionaries”).

It is time for American pastors to humble themselves to the difficult task of global missions by helping and encountering more workers to thrive as missionaries.

I could write a similar one to missionaries I know who are running away from life in their home country. That is obviously not the norm, but it happens.

May we all take a long hard look at ourselves, our churches, and repent for not assuming the going from the start. This is one of the paradoxes of faith: those who go are those who follow. And those who do not go are not following – Jesus anyway.