6 WAYSTO R E AC H GOD’S WORLD

B O O K L E T

LEARN. PRAY. GO. SEND. WELCOME. MOBILIZE.

6 WAYSTO R E AC H GOD’S WORLD

B O O K L E T

Six Ways to Reach God’s World

© 2011, OMF INTERNATIONALPublished by OMF International. 10 West Dry Creek Circle, Littleton CO 80120

ISBN-10 1-929122-31-4ISBN-13 978-1-929122-31-8

All rights reserved, including translation. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from OMF International, 10 W. Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120. Printed in the United States of America.

OMF Books are distributed worldwide. Visit www.OMFBooks.com for more information.

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Meet ... •Hugh, student of missions through conferences and Perspec-

tives on the World Christian Movement course; taking deliberate steps to become a long-term goer.

• Jan, goer turned editor; faithful prayer mobilizer.• Stacy, art teacher; moved step by step over time to become a

long-term goer.• Lee, pastor’s wife with keen interest in counseling ministry;

envisioned and equipped to be a sender as a member of a mission agency’s board of trustees.

• Davidand Lynn, followed their church’s lead in friendship evangelism with international students to become full-time welcomers.

• John, financial analyst; passionate mobilizer for missions.•MikeandNancy, chemical engineer and elementary school

teacher; transformed into senders, goers and mobilizers.

Scattered throughout this booklet you will hear bits from these friends who have accepted God’s invitation to move deeper into his purposes for the world. Each one has had a unique journey to involvement in missions. Each has had to seek God for his leading about specific roles in bringing the gospel to East Asia. Finding one’s role is much like the process of conversion from unbelief to faith. Becoming purposefully involved in God’s plan to receive glory and honor from every people group in this world requires obedience and intentionality. These saints have heard the invitation and chosen to follow. How about you?

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Me? Missions?

You matter to God. He delights in you. And through you, if you are open and willing to love through purposeful involvement,

his love will flow like living water to people and places of his world of which perhaps very few among us are aware. How much deeper will be our joy when we stand beside Lisu, Japanese, Riau Malay, North Koreans, Pwo Karen and so many others knowing he loved them through us?

In our fast-paced global world, it is a challenge to know how to become purposefully involved in God’s global plan. Things have changed so rapidly. Months-long trips by boat to faraway destina-tions have been replaced with 24-hour airline hops between cultures done by students, business people and leisure travelers. Photos and artifacts carried home in trunks have been replaced with live video and daily blogs. Week-long mission events have often been replaced by “mission moments.” We live in a time when discovering purposeful involvement in God’s affairs around the world requires us to be so much more intentional. Instead of letting the amazing work of God in the world pass by like yesterday’s headlines or a click of the TV remote, we need to engage intentionally.

If you’re reading this, you probably have at least some interest in missions. You know that God has called his people to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) and that, in the present state of the world, God is not receiving the glory due his name. The question now is what can you do about it? What intentional choice for purposeful involvement will you make?

Perhaps God is calling you to go and be a “frontline” missionary in Mongolia or Malaysia or another unreached part of the world.

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If you sense this call, go for it! But if God has not invited you to pack up all your earthly belongings and head to another part of the world, don’t count yourself out of his plan for the nations. Just as we all fill different roles in our churches, recognizing some to be the hands, some the eyes and some the feet (see 1 Corinthians 12), we can each fill specific roles in the global mission effort. To reach the 4 billion non-Christians and more than 6,000 unreached people groups in the world,* every part of the body of Christ needs to know and fulfill its function.

In this booklet we describe six ways to reach the peoples of God’s world: learning, praying, going, sending, welcoming and mobilizing. This is not a new idea. Other organizations and missions-minded people have similar descriptions. However one tries to capture this idea, it is clear that we as Christians need to find our role or roles in God’s redemptive plan. Might God have you engage more deeply in one of these?

* www.joshuaproject.net

LEARNPRAY GO SEND WELCOME MOBILIZE

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LeARn“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God ... “ Psalm 143:10

No matter where we are on the journey of involvement in missions, we all need to learn more of God’s heart and purposes for the

world. Goers educate themselves on the people and places where they will go. Senders observe carefully to meet the needs of the mis-sionaries. Intercessors learn all they can because “informed prayer is effective prayer.” Welcomers build bridges when they know and understand the internationals near them, and mobilizers are most effective as they stay abreast of just what God is doing in the world.

In all these things, learning will also involve the word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. God desires to teach us his ways; he wants us to learn more about him for the purpose of knowing and loving him more deeply. Perhaps more than any other, learning will include the use of resources about missions—books, websites, videos, etc. No list of learning resources is exhaustive, but here are just a few ideas:

•Operation World—www.operationworld.org.• Missionarybiographies—www.OMFBooks.com.• Perspectives on the World Christian Movement—bookandcourseatwww.perspectives.org.

• Information on unreached people groups—www.joshua-project.net.

• Dailynewspaper.

We are life-long learners. Learning is vital. Increase your knowledge and vision for the world and apply it across all the other ways described to reach the world for Christ.

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Some ways to learn

• Read a missionary biography.• Pay special attention to world news reports in the media and use

it as prayer fuel.• Take a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course.•Go to the library and check out books about countries of interest

to you.• Use the internet to explore different areas of the world.•Watch a video story about one of these.

Hugh: graphic designer, California; learner, preparing to be long-term goer—“The first step I took was going out there and doing short-term trips. God showed me things that I would not have been able to know, realize or experience if I had stayed home. The second was awareness of missions through conferences such as Urbana. Those helped with equipping, training and building awareness so I could make the bold step to make a longer commitment. The biggest influence for me was taking the Perspectives [on the World Christian Movement] course because it taught me the biblical perspective of missions and why it is important.”

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PRAY“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ …” Paul, Colossians 4:3

“Believers at home can do as much for overseas missions as those actually on the field. I believe it will only be known on

the last day how much has been accomplished in overseas missions by the prayers of earnest believers at home.” James (J.O.) Fraser, pioneer missionary to the Lisu people.

Far from a “minor” or “default” role in missions, prayer is essential to the work God does in the world. Intercessors lift the “goers” and the people whom they serve before the throne of God. J.O. Fraser, a pioneer missionary to the Lisu of China in the early 1900s, said this about prayer: “Paul may plant and Apollos water, but it is God who gives the increase; and this increase can be brought down from heaven by believing prayer, whether offered in China or in England [or the U.S.]. … If this is so, then Christians at home can do as much for foreign missions as those actually on the field. … What I covet more than anything else is earnest, believing prayer.”

Prayer is truly a ministry. Fraser knew this well. He spent several decades working among the Lisu people, who were a polytheis-tic group in the dense mountains of southern China. Fraser loved them, but after several years of evangelizing among the Lisu, there were very few believers. Then one day he wrote his mother back in England and asked her to organize a prayer group. Fraser wrote regularly with updates on how to pray for the Lisu. And pray they did.

Finally, in response to the group’s prayers and Fraser’s enduring work, a breakthrough occurred. As Fraser went from village to village, he was approached by the Lisu asking how they could know Christ! God did an incredible transforming work. Today the Lisu are more than 40 percent Christian and are a modern-day success story of an unreached people group being won for Christ and becoming a missions sending force.

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Some ways to pray

• Sign up to receive a missionary’s prayer letter and pray for them regularly.

• Start a prayer group for missions through your church or among your friends.

• Read and pray through country- or people-specific prayer guides.• Read the world headlines in the newspaper with an eye for prayer.• Sign up for a missionary’s e-mail prayer news.• Sign up for daily e-mails or monthly bulletins from mission

organizations.• Purchase Operation World and pray for a different country each

day (www.operationworld.org).

Jan: retired editor; Colorado Springs, CO; goer and prayer—Once a goer serving in Thailand, Jan is now serving through OMF International’s BridgeAsia program as a prayer ministry volunteer. “Prayer is hard work. It is struggle and sweat and tears as we engage in the battle for souls. The enemy does not give up easily. But it is precious beyond measure to be close to God’s heart and see him work as we wait on him and engage in the battle. We hold the lines, and I really believe that we are doing as significant work as the mis-sionaries out in the fields. Prayer is a high and holy calling.”

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Go “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus, Acts 1:8

Some people are “goers” who give up the life they have always known, perhaps “creature comforts” or professional opportuni-

ties of which they had always dreamed, in exchange for a life in a new culture among people who speak a different language, eat different foods and often have a much lower standard of living—in order to be conduits of Jesus’ love. It may be for a few weeks or a lifetime, but without those who are willing to step out in faith, the nations will not receive the gospel.

Have you ever noticed that so many cross-cultural “goers” speak glowingly about their experiences and say they wouldn’t trade it for a more comfortable life in their home country? Seems like a paradox. But maybe they have found a joy that is not dependent on their outward circumstances. Maybe, as they partner with God in the Great Commission, they have found what Jesus called the “abundant life” that he offers to his followers who deny themselves and give up their lives for the gospel.

In the 21st century, missionaries come in many forms: English teachers, language students, doctors, engineers, physical therapists, agricultural consultants … the list goes on. Basically, any skill you have—and if you are a native English speaker, that is a highly sought-after skill—can be used on the mission field. And contrary to the images that might be floating in your head, you probably won’t even have to live in a hut.

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Some ways to go

•Go long-term as a cross-cultural missionary.• Be a “finisher.” For those in their late 40s or 50s, spend the last

part of your professional career on the mission field.•Go for a two-year term. Most mission agencies have an option

for “medium-term” goers.•Go on a short-term mission trip through a mission agency or

your church.• Use your profession to share the gospel among the nations.•Go on a “vision trip” to East Asia or another part of the world.

Stacy: art teacher, California; goer— “It has been a long process for me. I am not adventurous or a risk taker. But I feel God has been patient, and I have been able to do things in steps, like going on short-term trips to Asia. There have been baby steps in my life. When you are passionate about something you should follow up on that and not just stick with something that is okay. The one thing I get excited about is Asia, so I should just go.”

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senD “And how can they preach unless they are sent?” Paul, Romans 10:15

Since the time of the Apostle Paul, missionaries haven’t just gone; they have been sent (see Romans 10:15). They have been

supported and encouraged by God’s people. Sending involves giving financially to meet the needs of the mission, but it does not mean one has to be wealthy to give. Senders pray fervently, communicate, lend cars, organize events, print and distribute prayer letters and do a wide variety of other creative actions. A “goer” without senders may as well stay home. For those who can’t go, or who are not called to, sending is a vital way to be involved with God’s work in the world.

If you spend a few moments talking with a missionary, you will soon hear them talking about how God has cared for them. That care has come through a variety of means, but frequently it has been through faithful senders. Needs were met when people prayed. Financial provision came through the generosity of God’s people, some known for a lifetime and some virtual strangers who God prompted at just the right time. Joy was bolstered when a letter or package came from home. Tremendous relief and blessing was felt when there was a place to stay and a car to drive and groceries in the cupboard in the midst of jetlag and the pressures of home assignment.

The love, encouragement and strength of senders carries the workers who bring the gospel where it has never gone. Senders are vital.

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Some ways to send

• Financially support a missionary or project.•Create a local sending group.• Share a meal, your professional skills, a car or guest room with

a missions worker.•Offer a place for missionaries to store their possessions while on

the field.•Offer a home/apartment for missionaries to use while they are

in their home country.• Plan a trip with your life group to visit missionaries where they

serve.• Encourage mission workers through e-mail, Facebook™,

telephone or Skype™ webcam call.

Lee: minister and life coach with experience as a clinical therapist, Colorado; former member of OMF International’s U.S. Board of Trustees for 14 years; sender— “Missions has been a part of my entire Christian experience. Serving on the board of trustees for OMF International (U.S.), I was privileged to meet and interview candidates as they share what God is doing in their lives. Using my vocational experience to equip the goers is a blessing. When I see the kingdom advancing through the ministry of the Holy Spirit operative in the lives of members, I get very excited to be a sender/facilitator with this ministry. I celebrate OMF Internation-al, an international and multinational sending organization which equips and sends national workers—this reflects the essence of the kingdom of God.”’

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WeLCoMe“You are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:19

In many ways, the world is coming to us. The presence of interna-tionals living in our communities provides a golden opportunity

to share the gospel and show the love of Christ. Someone from an “unreached” people group may live next door. Welcomers join these lives with their own in Christ’s name.

The United States has been known as the “melting pot of the world.” In the 19th century and early 20th century this mainly referred to the influx of European immigrants. Today, however, it alludes to a vast diversity of nationalities traveling to and settling in North America.

“Welcoming” refers to ministry to internationals. Nearly 600,000 of the internationals in the U.S. are students, usually graduate students who often become future leaders in their countries. Currently 40 percent of the world’s 220 heads of state studied in America,1 including international figures such as U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mexican President Vincente Fox and Jordanian President King Abdullah II.2 Ministry to internationals can make a strategic Christian impact on our world. As a senior Chinese official recently told a Western professional, “We are sending thousands of our best students overseas into your care. They are truly China’s treasures!”3

An estimated 22 million internationals visit the U.S. each year. Of these, some 705,000 are university students from 220 countries, 25% of which prohibit Christian missionaries. A startling 80% of those students will return to their countries having never been invited to an American home.4 Welcoming is a vital role—God has brought some from around the world to our doorstep. Will we reach out and love them in his name?

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Some ways to welcome

• Introduce yourself to internationals in your neighborhood.• Start a Bible study for international students.•Go to international holiday events to meet internationals (i.e.

Chinese New Year, Japanese Spring Festival, Oktoberfest, etc.).• Become a friendship partner with an international student

through organizations like International Students Inc. (ISI).• Volunteer at a food bank or refugee outreach.•Offer English classes for internationals through your church.•Connect with a local welcome ministry to a specific people

group.• Host an “Around Town” event for internationals that are new to

your area. Take them on a tour of different points of interest around your city or area.

David and Lynn: ministry to Chinese Diaspora in Colorado; welcomers—”Relationships with international students are so rich. We reach out, but we get blessed in the process. Seeing the Lord work in others’ lives as he grows and stretches you at the same time … is really fun! Our responsibility is to love those he has placed near us (see Acts 17:26-27) whether they have an interest in the gospel or not. We can serve in practical ways, things that don’t need a lot of training. As a family we have invited students for Thanksgiv-ing dinner, helped them move, helped them practice their English speaking and taken them to church activities. There are so many ways God has used us to minister to our Chinese friends.”

1 The Traveling Team, “The Unreached,” www.thetravelingteam.org 2 USA Study Guide, “Famous International Students,” www.usastudyguide.com 3 Tony Lambert, Pray for China! (OMF International, 2005), 28.4 The Traveling Team, “The Unreached,” www.thetravelingteam.org

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MoBiLiZe “And the things you have heard me say ... entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others.” Paul, 2 Timothy 2:2

“Someone must sound the rallying call ... Mobilizers stir other Christians to active concern for reaching the world. They

coordinate efforts between senders, the local churches, sending agencies and missionaries on the field. Mobilizers are essential.” Phil Parshall, missionary, author and mobilizer

Before one goes, sends or becomes a prayer partner, he must be mobilized. Someone must educate, make aware and help move the person to the point of involvement. Once vision is caught, it usually can’t be contained. Mobilizers understand that they cannot do the massive job alone, but together, each filling their role, they can spread the saving message of the gospel to the people that don’t yet know Jesus.

The Christian church must be mobilized to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The status quo will not do. Some people—mobilizers—must “light the fire” and call God’s people to action. As this happens, they join the Holy Spirit, the ultimate “mobilizer,” in encouraging involvement in God’s worldwide redemptive purposes. Mobilizers are called to disciple, mentor and support those whom God has moved. It’s a vital role.

How did you learn about missions? Were your parents active senders? Was your pastor persistent in remembering the needs of the world in services each week? Did your college roommate go on a short-term trip and come home so on fire that you got singed? These were mobilizers in action. Perhaps God is calling you to do the same for those around you … and the ones around the world still waiting to receive salvation.

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Some ways to mobilize

•Organize a missions emphasis week at your church, school or Christian community.

• Set up a table focused on missions at your church.• Encourage your pastor to show videos related to missions and

global outreach in services.•Organize a small group or Sunday school class with a global

advocacy focus.• Bring a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course to

your church. • Invite friends to an internationally-focused event.• Volunteer with a mission organization.• Advocate for a people group or cause.• Invite a friend to join you on a short-term trip.

John: financial manager in New Jersey; mobilizer— “The blessing of OMF International is the very reason why I have this burden for mobilization. After a summer trip, I stayed in touch with our team’s trip coordinator, whose prayer and the prayers of her supporters, I believe, single-handedly birthed in me this passion for mobilization. She counseled and processed with me as I struggled through all the natural post-trip drama of “how now shall I live?” In short, the trip planted, the coordinator watered and God grew this heart in me to see others also know the depths of God’s heart for the blessing of the nations. As I’ve walked out this passion, I’ve seen God bless my life in unimaginable ways, growing me in Christ-likeness, in maturity and in a purposeful living that moves me toward the fullness of God’s goodness.”

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What difference can I make?“One life to live; ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Author unknown

Aed is one of 4.4 million* Shan people spread throughout northern Thailand, Myanmar and southern China. Very few of the Shan—just .9%)—know Christ.

Aed has lived a hard life. He has no family and he struggles to make ends meet. For most of his life, Aed lived in turmoil and fear. The only way he could sleep was to get drunk. One day, Aed met a Christian girl who asked him if he was Christian or Buddhist (the predominant religion in this area of the world). When Aed answered that he didn’t follow either of those religions, the girl invited him to church. An American pastor was visiting the church the day Aed came. As Aed listened to the interpreter’s translation of the pastor’s message, his heart was moved. Aed’s interest was piqued, and he began to attend the church regularly. Aed was taught about Chris-tianity by an Australian missionary and a local Shan pastor. In the process, he came to know Christ. He soon discovered the cost of following Jesus. When Aed asked to take a cut in pay so he could attend church on Sunday, his boss fired him. But Aed has remained faithful to his Lord. He is growing in his newfound faith, doing a Bible correspondence course in Thai and preparing for baptism. He is a new creation in Christ and those around him can see the difference.

Aed’s story is an example of the gospel’s transforming power. It is also an example of how the global body of Christ contributes to the spread of the gospel.

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Think of all the people who took intentional steps toward involvement that opened the way for them to play an important part in Aed’s journey to Christ. The American pastor and Australian missionary were the “goers” who went through some process of learning about the Shan people, being called to them and then obeying to go and serve. They both had sending and praying teams back home in the United States and Australia. At one point in their lives, they were mobilized to serve the nations and spread the gospel. The purposeful ministry involvement of all these—the goers, the prayers, the senders and the mobilizers—bore spiritual fruit when Aed came to Christ. This is how the church can work!

You matter to God. He has uniquely equipped you for his purposes and given an incredible vision to pursue—a people from every tribe, tongue and nation in worship before him (see Revelation 7:9). Many more “Aeds” are out there who need God’s loving touch. In what ways will you be Christ’s hands to reach God’s world?

Mike and Nancy: youth pastor and teacher, California; senders/goers/mobilizers— “Our current direction seems to be goers since we’re praying for God’s timing to serve a few years in the near future. However, meanwhile, we are definitely mobilizers. After the initial short-term trips with OMF, we helped the missions committee at our church, facilitated prayer meetings and presented mission updates. We frequently open our home to missionaries on home assignment. We also mobilize others by speaking at college fellowships and other youth groups, as well as volunteering at missions conferences.”

* www.joshuaproject.net, August 2007.

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6 Ways to Reach God’s WorldLeARn. No matter where we are on the missions journey, we all need to learn more of God’s heart and purposes for the world. “Goers” educate themselves on the people and places where they will go. Senders observe carefully to meet the needs of the mis-sionaries. Intercessors learn all they can because “informed prayer is effective prayer.” Welcomers build bridges when they know and understand the internationals near them, and mobilizers are most effective as they stay abreast of just what God is doing in the world.

PRAY. Far from a “minor” or “default” role in missions, prayer is essential to the work God does in the world. Intercessors lift the “goers” and the people whom they serve before the throne of God. James O. (J.O.) Fraser, a pioneer missionary to the Lisu of China in the early 1900s, said this about prayer: “Paul may plant and Apol-los water, but it is God who gives the increase; and this increase can be brought down from heaven by believing prayer, whether offered in China or in England [or the U.S.]. … If this is so, then Christians at home can do as much for foreign missions as those actually on the field. … What I covet more than anything else is earnest, believ-ing prayer.”

Go. Some people are “goers” who give up the life they have always known, perhaps “creature comforts” or professional oppor-tunities of which they had always dreamed, in exchange for a life in a new culture among people who speak a different language, eat different foods and usually have a much lower standard of living—in order to be conduits of Jesus’ love. It may be for a few weeks or a lifetime, but without those willing to step out in faith, the nations will not receive the gospel.

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senD. Since the time of the Apostle Paul, missionaries haven’t just gone; they have been sent (see Romans 10:15). They have been supported and encouraged by God’s people. Sending involves giv-ing financially to meet the needs of the mission, but it does not mean one has to be wealthy to give. Senders pray fervently, commu-nicate, lend cars, organize events, print and distribute prayer letters and do a wide variety of other creative actions. A “goer” without senders may as well stay home.

WeLCoMe. In many ways, the world is coming to us. The presence of internationals living in our communities provides a golden opportunity to share the gospel and show the love of Christ. Someone from an “unreached” people group may live right next door. Welcomers join these lives with their own in Christ’s name.

MoBiLiZe. Before one goes, sends or becomes a prayer part-ner, he must be mobilized. Someone must educate, make aware, and help move the person to the point of involvement. Once vision is caught, it usually can’t be contained. Mobilizers understand that they cannot do the massive job alone, but together, each filling their role, they can spread the saving message of the gospel to the people that don’t yet know Jesus.

Need more ideas? For more than 250 practical ideas for involvement, visit www.omf.org/us/getinvolved.

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6 Ways to Reach God’s WorldVIDEO SERIES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

www.6ways2reach.org

God invites each one of us to move deeper into his purposes for the world.

He offers each of us a unique journey as we pursue involvement in missions.

Becoming purposefully involved in God’s plan to receive glory and honor from every people group in this world requires that we engage intentionally.

• In the present state of the world, God is not receiving the glory due his name. What can we do about that? What would it look like to you if God was receiving the glory he deserves?

•Write a vision statement or dream you wish could be achieved in the world. Make sure to think big.

•Now what part can you play in that?•What does it mean to you to be part of the Body of Christ?•What does it mean for the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12) to love the

Bride of Christ (Isaiah 61-62)?•What about you? How would God have you step in deeper to love more

intentionally for his glory?

In this booklet (and the video series) we describe six ways to reach the peoples of his world: learning, praying, going, sending, welcoming and mobilizing. This is not a new idea. Other organizations and missions-minded people have similar descriptions. However one tries to capture this idea, it is clear that we as Christians need to find our role or roles in God’s redemptive plan. Might God have you engage more deeply in one of these? As you work through these discussion questions alone or in your small group, ask the Lord to show you the ways he has uniquely gifted you for his purposes in the world.

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LEARN•What does it mean to be made with God “imprinted on our DNA?” How

does learning fit into that?•Are you prepared to “finish well”?•How have you learned to see the world through God’s eyes?•Why do you think that so much of Jesus’ ministry consisted of teaching? •Based on the stories of people who learned from Jesus, why do you think

it is important to try to learn and understand things?•How will intentional learning about God impact missions?•What tools can you use in order to learn about missions and the other

five ways mentioned? Where can you go for resources?•How is God calling you to commit to learning?

PRAY•Where in your life have you seen prayer make a difference?•How is the power of prayer shown in the Bible?•Are you consistent in prayer? What keeps you from praying?•Has God burdened your heart for a particular place or people group? •What types of things are you afraid to ask God for when praying for

missions? Write out a prayer without fear and with the knowledge that there is power in prayer.

•Someone once said, “History belongs to the intercessors.” How does this idea change your mindset about prayer?

•What history making prayer do you want to pray? Write it out.•What prayer commitment is God calling you to make?

GO•What does the term “goer” mean?•Name a few missionary roles or occupations.•Read Acts 1:8 and 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. What do these verses say

about going?• In the Bible, who are examples of missionaries? Think of names and

then write down verses that affirm this.•Think of a missionary, you can either know them personally or research

someone. Write down how being a missionary has impacted his or her life.

• If you could do any type of missions work in another country, what would you do? Dream big.

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•When looking at Jesus’ life, what examples of “going” do you see?• Is God calling you to follow him and go short term or long term?•What steps can you take to prepare to go?

SEND•What does it mean to be a sender? What does the role of sending

include?•What different ways could people be senders?•Where in the Bible is the idea of being a sender supported?•How could you tailor your budget in order to become a sender? Or,

what skills or passions do you have that you can use to increase your ability as a sender?

•What barriers usually keep people from giving or being a sender?•Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 and 2 Corinthians 9:1-16. What can we learn

about giving from these verses?•Why is it important to be a sender? What blessings are there in sending?•What sending commitment is God asking you to make?

WELCOME•How do you know if you are a welcomer?•Describe how you feel when you are in a group but not part of the group?•How do you think you would feel if you were in another country and

never felt truly welcomed?•Name some different cultural groups around you. • If you were new to the area, what do you think you would want to know,

see or do?•Sometimes what prevents us from interacting with other cultures is our

fear of the unknown. What are ways that you can learn more about the people groups in your area?

•How do you think you can use your knowledge to reach out to that specific culture group?

• If we are really getting future leaders and top students from other countries, what impact could we have if we make an effort to welcome them and show them God’s love?

•What are some examples in the Bible of welcoming? What impact does it have?

•What commitment to welcoming is God calling you to?

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MOBILIZE•Webster defines mobilize as “to put into movement or circulation.” How

would you in your own words define mobilization as it refers to global outreach?

•Read Luke 5:1-11 and Mark 6:7-13. What do these passages show about mobilization? In what way did Jesus mobilize people?

•After you have helped show people that reaching God’s world is important, what action steps can you take to help them actually get moving and prepared for missions?

•What are some ways that you could mobilize people for missions? Be creative.

•Read Matthew 9:35-38. What does this have to do with mobilization? How can you relate this verse to modern day?

•To what commitment to mobilize is God calling you?

NOWWHAT•What have you learned through this process?•How has your perspective changed as to why and how you can get

involved?•What are some action steps you can take to get more involved?•Where do you fit in the body? What role can you play?•Create your own ideas of things to do under each of the six ways. Look

through your list and the lists provided in this booklet and pick one action. Commit to taking your next step.

God invites each one of us to move deeper into his purposes for the world. He offers each of us a unique journey as we pursue involvement in missions. Becoming purposefully involved in God’s plan to receive glory and honor from every people group in this world requires that we engage intentionally.

LEARN. PRAY. GO. SEND. WELCOME. MOBILIZE.

What about you? How would God have you step in deeper to love more intentionally?

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6 WAYSTO R E AC H GOD’S WORLD

B O O K L E T