Is This Mission Possible? - Part 2 of 3

Our job is too big to finish... doing it our way!

There are thousands of talented and dedicated God followers working in many wonderful mission organizations who are attempting to complete our corporate task. Incredible new technologies are making their efforts more efficient than could have been dreamed of just a short while ago. But no matter how you massage the numbers, the effort being made today combined with the methods we are using just aren't enough. It truly is a "mission impossible." One proposed solution is to give more money and send more missionaries. For this to work, consider how many more people would need to go and how much more money would have to be given to send them. Giving more and sending more are parts of the solution but only parts. If you double the present number of missionaries and the finances, you could theoretically reach twice as many people... What other options exist? I am convinced that the solution will require a paradigm shift back to the strategy that Christ taught and that the early church used very effectively. The solution is contained in the Great Commission. Jesus said to go into all the world, preach to all creation, make disciples of all nations, and baptize those who believe. But He did not say we had to do it all by ourselves! It is numerically impossible for missionaries to evangelize and disciple and pastor the entire world. Jesus concluded the Great Commission by saying, "Teach everyone to do just what I'm telling you to do" (Matthew 28:20, paraphrased). In other words, we need to change our mindset to accommodate the fact that we cannot accomplish the Great Commission by ourselves. Every believer from every church, denomination, country, and race needs to play his or her vital role in the process. We cannot exclude anyone. There is a key role for every believer and a wonderful sense of significance that comes with it. We can't add everyone into the kingdom; we have to multiply them in. This paradigm shift could radically affect everything missionaries and new believers do, say, and think. Yes, we have a big job to do, but together, with the Holy Spirit's help, we can accomplish it. This was originally published in the Great Omission book, written by Steve Saint. http://itecusao.wwwmi3-ts4.a2hosted.com/2015/12/04/is-this-mission-possible-part-3/