Mission on a Mission

by Daryl Grimes

When I was a young student at Southeastern Free Will Baptist College, a church planter in the area shared with us about the work to which God had called him. He told us his mission church was going to be involved in missions from day one—a mission on a mission!

Though I had been raised in a missions-minded church, the idea was odd to me. My fleshly logic told me that a mission church should not worry about getting involved in missions until financially stable, maybe even self-supporting. I have learned, however, that the Great Commission and fleshly logic mix about as well as oil and water.

Before diving into this subject, consider the illogical. God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who has everything at His disposal, has chosen to use you and me to deliver His message of hope and salvation to a lost and dying world. Doesn’t He know our faults and failures? Hasn’t He heard the excuses throughout history of why mankind cannot fulfill His will? Yet, once again, we see God using the weak things of His creation to bring Himself glory. Little about God’s will seems logical to our sinful flesh. Perhaps that is why the writer of Hebrews said, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”

Now, back to my story. That fledgling mission work, supported by people from around the country, committed the first 10% of their income to reach around the world with the gospel. Illogical? Perhaps. However, this is exactly the idea we find in Acts 1:8. While reaching our Jerusalem, we should—at the same time—be reaching our Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. While I haven’t quite figured out how to be two or three places at once, I do know that we will never reach the uttermost parts of the earth if we focus only on our Jerusalem. Though we may not be able to go to Judea and Samaria ourselves, we can help others go and reach the unreached.

The church I mentioned earlier didn’t go bankrupt because they gave to missions from day one. Today, they have a multi-ministry church and recently started a Christian day care and school. Their influence has not only impacted the bustling city to which God called them, but has reached around the world, affecting lives all the way to India.

I believe every Christian has a responsibility to give first to their local church, but I also believe every local church has a responsibility to collectively fulfill the Great Commission by giving so others can go to the regions beyond. More and more mission churches have a burden to reach beyond their local community for Christ—to have a heart for the world!

Christ commanded us to treat others as we want to be treated. Most home missionaries travel for more than a year, asking churches to support them, pray for them, and sacrifice financially to help them reach their field with the gospel. As God entrusts funds to our mission, we would be doing a disservice to ourselves and to the unreached if we did not help others as we have been helped.

I have been amazed at the support our church has received from other churches still labeled with a “mission” status. These churches are missions on a mission. From day one, they teach new converts to look outward. I commend them and thank them for what they are doing, and by the grace of God, we will follow in their footsteps.

Just the other day, we wrote the first missions check from Flagship Free Will Baptist Church, and it felt so good. We were able to send a small amount to Free Will Baptist colleges, fellow home missionaries, and state and national ministries. I am not bragging on this decision but hope to inspire other churches. Whether your church is a mission work or not, step out in faith (not logic) and give to reach this world for Christ!

About the Writer: Daryl Grimes is a home missionary to Erie, Pennsylvania. Read more about the church at www.flagshipchurch.org.