From Mandate to Movement: Reawakening the Church’s Global Mission

As pastors of small churches, we are often reminded of the daily challenges of leading a congregation—balancing budgets, shepherding our people, and maintaining the health of the church. Yet, amid these important tasks, we must continually ask ourselves a crucial question: Are we fulfilling the Great Commission?

Jesus left us with a clear and urgent command in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This is not a suggestion or a calling for a select few. It is the mandate for every believer and every church. Sadly, a significant portion of the global Church has lost sight of this mission. Studies show that 85% of pastors believe missions is a mandate for the whole Church, yet only a fraction of Christians see it that way.

It’s time for us to lead the way in reigniting a passion for missions and recommitting to the Great Commission. The question is: How can we, as small church pastors, mobilize our congregations to embrace and live out this mandate?


A Mandate for All Believers

One of the greatest misconceptions in many churches today is the belief that missions are for professional missionaries or those "called" to go overseas. But Jesus made it clear that the Great Commission is a command for all His followers. Whether we are pastors, teachers, business owners, students, or retirees, we all share the responsibility to make disciples of all nations.

Unfortunately, only 42% of practicing Christians believe that missions is a mandate for them. As pastors, it is our role to correct this misunderstanding and help our congregations see that they are a vital part of God’s global mission. It begins with teaching and reminding our people that the Great Commission is not optional—it’s central to who we are as followers of Christ.
To help your church understand this, consider doing the following:

1. Preach the Great Commission Regularly: Teach on the Great Commission throughout the year, using different angles and passages to show that missions are woven into the fabric of the entire Bible.

2. Share Testimonies: Invite missionaries or members of your congregation who have been involved in local or global missions to share their stories. Personal testimonies can inspire others to get involved and show that anyone can play a role in missions.

3. Highlight Different Ways to Engage: Help your congregation see that they don’t have to be full-time missionaries to participate in the Great Commission. They can pray, give, serve, and even go on short-term trips.


Practical Steps for Recommitment

Recommitting to the Great Commission requires more than just a renewed passion—it calls for strategic action. Here are some practical steps that you can take as a small church pastor to lead your congregation in this commitment:

1. Create a Church-Wide Missions Focus:
  • Designate a specific month each year as “Missions Month” where you focus on global missions in your sermons, Bible studies, and church activities. This will keep the Great Commission at the forefront of your congregation’s mind and provide practical ways for them to get involved.
2. Develop a Great Commission Strategy:
  • Sit down with your church leadership team and develop a missions strategy tailored to your church’s size, resources, and community. This could include supporting specific missionaries, partnering with global ministries, or sending short-term mission teams.
3. Make Prayer for the Nations a Priority:
  • Encourage your church to pray regularly for unreached people groups and global mission efforts. You could dedicate part of your Sunday service to praying for a different nation each week, or start a prayer group focused on global missions.
4. Launch a “Great Commission Day”:
  • Consider hosting an annual Great Commission Day where the entire church focuses on missions, both locally and globally. This could include a special offering for missions, a guest speaker, and practical ways for members to get involved in reaching the lost.
5. Equip Your Congregation:
  • Offer training on how to share the gospel effectively, both in their local communities and in cross-cultural contexts. Equip them with tools and resources they can use to evangelize, disciple, and engage in missions wherever they are.

Building Long-Term Partnerships

As we discussed in previous weeks, missions is not just about sending missionaries but also about building long-term partnerships with churches and ministries around the world. Recommitting to the Great Commission means moving beyond short-term thinking and building sustainable relationships that advance God’s kingdom globally.
Here are a few ways to develop these partnerships:

  • Partner with Global Churches: Rather than trying to do missions on your own, look for churches in the Global South or unreached areas that you can partner with. These churches often know the needs of their communities far better than outsiders do, and they are uniquely positioned to reach their own people.
  • Support Local Leaders: One of the most effective ways to support global missions is by empowering local pastors and leaders in unreached areas. By providing them with resources, training, and prayer, you can help them spread the gospel in ways that are culturally relevant and sustainable.
  • Engage in Reciprocal Relationships: Missions should be a two-way street. As you partner with global churches, be open to learning from them as well. God is doing incredible things in the Global South, and we can learn a lot from their faith, resilience, and innovative approaches to ministry.


Pastors, the Great Commission is not just a task on a to-do list—it’s the heartbeat of the Church. As leaders, we have a responsibility to help our congregations see that missions are not for a select few but for all who call themselves followers of Christ. It’s time to recommit ourselves to the mandate Jesus gave us, and in doing so, lead our churches into a new season of missional engagement.

The mission field is vast, but the opportunities are endless. Whether through sending, partnering, praying, or going, we can all play a part in God’s plan to reach the nations. The question is: Will we answer the call?

As you reflect on your church’s role in global missions, ask yourself: What is one step we can take today to recommit to the Great Commission? Whether big or small, every action counts in advancing the kingdom of God. Let’s lead our people into a movement of recommitment that impacts not just our local communities, but the world. 


We are your partner in ministry, empowering you to stay in the game and help you complete the work God began in you.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding the Disconnect in the Church

The Great Disconnect and why we need to reconnect with the Great Commission. As pastors of small churches, it’s easy to feel the weight of leading a congregation, managing limited resources, and caring for your people. But amid the daily demands of ministry, there is a foundational question that we must continually return to: Are we fulfilling the mission Jesus gave us? The answer, according to recent studies, might be more troubling than we realize. A study on church engagement revealed a significant gap in the understanding and application of the Great Commission, the very mission Christ commanded us to undertake. Many Christians, perhaps even some in our own congregations, may not know what the Great Commission is or why it matters. The Great Disconnect It may shock you to know that two-thirds of Christians say they have never heard of the Great Commission. Of those who have heard it, only 26% of practicing Christians can identify and explain it correctly. This is a sobering real...
Read more

Understanding the Global Church: Is the U.S. Really the Center of Christianity?

 As pastors of small churches, we know how easy it can be to focus primarily on our local community and the immediate needs around us. But as we lead our congregations, we must ask a critical question: How well do we understand the global Church? Many of our members may assume that the United States is the central hub of Christianity, but the reality is far different—and that misconception can deeply impact how we engage in God’s mission. According to recent studies, 68% of U.S. Christians believe the United States is the modern center of Christianity . However, this view is not only inaccurate but also limits our understanding of the global body of Christ and our role in it. To fulfill the Great Commission, we must develop a broader view of the Church—one that transcends borders and recognizes the powerful work God is doing across the world. The Global Shift in Christianity In recent decades, the geographic heart of Christianity has shifted dramatically. While Christianity may ha...
Read more

Rethinking Our Mission Strategies: Moving from Sending to Partnering

For small church pastors, fulfilling the call to global missions often seems like a daunting task. With limited resources and fewer members, the idea of sending missionaries or making a significant global impact can feel out of reach. Yet, the heart of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is not about the size of our congregations but the scope of our vision. Many churches, particularly smaller ones, operate under the assumption that sending missionaries overseas is the only way to fulfill the Great Commission. But is that really the best or only way to engage in global missions? According to recent studies, 60% of Christians believe that churches send the right amount of missionaries —yet large portions of the world remain unreached. There is a critical disconnect here. It’s time to rethink our mission strategies. Instead of solely focusing on sending missionaries, what if we shifted toward partnering with the global Church to make a more sustainable and impactful difference? Effec...
Read more