By John M Galyen

Since its inception, the church has been focused on outward expansion.  We seek to win people to Christ, not just to have bigger churches or more volunteers for ministry, but because we serve a missionary God who is in the sending business.  God sent his Son to redeem us and provide a relationship with himself.  Now he sends the Church to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to a world in desperate need of a Savior.

The local church is charged with the responsibility of spreading the gospel both locally and globally.  For many churches and church leaders this may seem like an impossible task.  How can a small church is Arkansas, or Missouri, or Kentucky reach the world with the gospel?  Obviously, no church can single-handedly reach the world, but we each have a part to play in God’s plan to redeem every nation, tribe, and tongue.  As a pastor, I want to make sure my church is engaged in local ministry, but I also want to lead them to give to, pray for, and go to all nations because this is what we are called to do.  Last week, I outlined 4 ways that church leaders can help their congregation stay focused on the true mission of the church.  This week, I will go over 4 other ways to keep missions in the forefront of your church’s mind.

5. Read Scripture in Different Languages

Another important part of worship is Scripture reading.  In his book, Worship Matters, author Bob Kauflin suggests a creative way to use Scripture readings to emphasize God’s mission:  Have someone read Scripture in a different language.  This helps remind people that there are believers all across the globe who are worshiping the same God we serve.  If you have a member who can read Spanish, or French, or Russian, invite them to do a reading and then have someone else read the same passage in English.  Though few people in the service may understand the foreign language, they will appreciate the creative reminder that God is not limited in the ways we are and that someday a great crowd will gather around the heavenly throne to proclaim God’s praise in every language.

6. Flags or Banners

Flags or banners can be used to visually remind the church of its missional focus.  The church I serve is planning to hang flags for each country that a member of our congregation has visited on a mission trip.  Over the past couple of years, we have had teams or individuals serve in eight different countries.  We will spend a whole service hanging these flags and reminding the congregation of our missionary task as we point them to the God who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son.”  The flags are not mere trophies celebrating our achievements, but are intended to remind our people of the unfinished task of reaching the world, and to encourage them to pray that the good news will spread widely through these particular nations.  Such a display will not only remind the congregation of their calling, but will also let visitors know that yours is a local church with a global vision.

7.Guest Speakers

Inviting special guests, such as stateside missionaries, is another way to promote a missional focus in your church.  This takes a bit of planning and promotion, but General Baptist missionaries love to visit local churches to share about their work.  During the summer, many missionaries come home to attend the Summit, meaning your church has the incredible opportunity to hear from an active missionary fresh off the field.  Missionaries usually need more notice than you average guest speaker, so consider contacting the International Missions department (www.generalbaptist.com or 573-785-7746) early in the summer to see what missionaries are available to speak to your church while they are home.  Have them share about their work and challenge your church to get more involved with GB missions.

Four young women from our church went on the Women’s Ministries mission trip to India last October.  When they share with our church about GB work in this faraway land, our church responded by voting to financially support the Vemulas.  Recently, Jessey and Brittany Vemula were able to join us on a Sunday morning to share about what God is doing in India.  Again, our church responded by increasing their support for the Vemula’s ministry.  Hearing from an actual missionary on the field is very powerful.  Give you people that change so they can get a glimpse of what God is doing around the world and how they can join Him.

8.  Budgeting & Special Offerings

Your church’s budget reflects your priorities.  Read that sentence again.  Sobering, isn’t it?  Churches spend a lot of money each year on Sunday School literature, media presentations, activities, and local outreach.  None of those things are bad.  But in order for our budgets to be biblically balanced, we need to spend our resources reaching people both locally and globally.  That may mean leading your church to participate in Unified Giving or the annual Ed Steven’s Day Offering.  Ideally, each GB church will do both.  You can teach the kids (and adults) in your church about missions by designating your VBS offering to the annual GBIM project (this year’s project is a new van for Faith Home).  Whatever your level of giving, make sure your church is supporting mission causes that are focused on sharing the gospel and planting churches in unreached areas of the world.  When you give to missions, you are not just donating; you are investing in someone’s eternity.

This list is by no means exhaustive.  I encourage you to think of other ways you could lead your church to maintain a missional focus.  What is more important is that each General Baptist church establishes and maintains a commitment to spreading the gospel at home and abroad.  Our calling to spread the gospel is not an either/or proposition.  We cannot choose whether to reach people at home or around the world.  Every church is called to do whatever it can, by God’s grace, to take the whole gospel to the whole world.

John is the pastor of Leigh’s Chapel General Baptist Church in Greenville, Kentucky, where he has served for the past 8 years.  He is married, and has four sons.  For more information about General Baptist International and National work, visit www.generalbaptist.com or call 573-785-7746.