"Missions exists because worship doesn't." John Piper
Just prior to ascending into heaven, Jesus gave a command to His disciples and to all who are servants of the Lord. “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
Jesus also stated how His servants would be able to accomplish this task. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 ESV
The task is still as relevant and important today as is was when Jesus spoke these words. Servants of the Lord must obey the command of their Lord. Missions, the task of making disciples of all nations, is not an option. The Internet has some wonderful resources that will assist the individual believer and the church missions committee in preparation for missions involvement. A selected number of Internet websites are listed which represent the best of a myriad of sites available on the Internet. Also a few books will be suggested for the home and church library that rank in the “must have” category for all seeking to serve the Lord in missions.
A quote from one of these books is well worth stating before exploring the Internet and the printed resources listed below:
“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.
Worship therefore, is the fuel and goal in missions, It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. “The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” (Psalm 97:1). “Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!” (Psalm 67:3-4)
But worship is also the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. Missionaries will never call out, “Let the nations be glad!” , who cannot say from the heart, “I rejoice in the Lord......I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing praise to thy name, O most High” (Psalm 104:34; 9:2) Missions begins and ends in worship.”
Quote from: Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions, author John Piper, Baker Books, 1993, page 11.
Selected Internet Resources
An outstanding Missions Organization is The Joshua Project
This is the stated mission and passion of The Joshua Project:
The mission and passion of Joshua Project is to identify and highlight the people groups of the world that have the least exposure to the Gospel and the least Christian presence in their midst. Joshua Project shares this information to encourage pioneer church-planting movements among every ethnic people group.
Joshua Project has compiled the work of numerous missions researchers to develop a complete list of all ethnic peoples. Many errors, duplicates, overlaps still exist and the data is continually being updated.
From this overall ethnic peoples list, Joshua Project has identified a list of unreached / least-reached peoples. This list helps bring definition to the unfinished task of the Great Commission. We desire that this list be used to accelerate the Gospel’s impact into each of the least-reached people groups.
Joshua Project seeks to answer the questions that result from the Great Commission’s call to make disciples among every people:
1. Who are the ethnic people groups of the world?
2. Which people groups still need an initial church-planting movement in their midst?
3. What ministry resources are available to help begin outreach among the least-reached?
Accurate, regularly updated ethnic people group information is critical for understanding and completing the Great Commission and for effective coordination of mission agency efforts.
Another website in the outstanding category is: Global Mapping International
One of the Internet’s best and highly recommended mission sites. A great number of missions related resources are available for individuals and churches.
GMI states that their purpose, beliefs, business, vision, mission and priorities are:
Core Purpose
Global Mapping International is a non-profit corporation dedicated to furthering the cause of world evangelization. Specifically, we seek to enable more appropriate and effective cross-cultural mission.
Beliefs
As a corporate body, and as individual staff members, we are thoroughly committed to evangelical Christian faith, doctrine and practice. Accordingly, GMI adopts as our statement of faith that given in the constitutions of both the National Association of Evangelicals and the Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies.
Business
GMI is in the information "business"; more specifically, our business is the research and development of strategic missions information. Our products and programs enable Christian ministry leaders to acquire, manage, analyze, apply, communicate, and share strategic information.
Vision
GMI's vision is to see the worldwide Christian community make Spirit-guided use of research information to stimulate mission interest, shape mission appropriately, and carry it out effectively.
We believe that the right information, in appropriate formats, readily available to the right people, makes all the difference in the world in carrying out God's mission in the world. The better the Church sees the world with fresh, godly insight, the better she will:
-praise God for what he is doing;
-pray for the people of the world;
-understand and appreciate others; and
-join with God in serving appropriately and effectively in mission.
Mission
The mission of GMI is to produce and present world-class research that fuels emerging mission movements and leaders.
The primary strategies we use to ensure Christian leaders have access to the best information include:
-mission research & development activities designed to create new information and insight;
-production and publishing of mission information in maps, booklets, CD-ROMs and the Web;
-training and consulting others in the research and publication of mission information; and
-partnering with others around the world in strategic alliances to ensure the most appropriate results at the lowest possible prices.
Priorities
GMI's highest priority is serving evangelical mission leaders in the Developing World (Two-Thirds World).
Other Web Sites:
Only a few missions related sites are listed here. Most of these sites provide links to a variety of additional websites that are useful for missions research and study. The Servant’s Place does not necessarily endorse any of these sites nor agree with any specific theological position these sites may state.
Missionary Resources.org
About The Missionary Resource Center - As Stated on their website:
The Missionary Resource Center (www.missionaryresources.org) is a comprehensive missionary resource center that serves as a community and connecting point for tens of thousands of missionaries each year. This community offers visitors the ability to browse through tons of topics on missions, with subjects ranging from homeschooling to airfare. Visitors can browse recommended books, videos, websites, articles, and even make related purchases in our online store. The MRC is a service brought to you by Emercy (www.emercy.org).
Missiology .Org
A highly recommended site offering a comprehensive listing of resources on the Internet.
Missiology.Org is a website presented by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen with his stated objective of:
Providing Resources for Missions Education
The website has these major Sub Sections:
-Monthly Missiological Reflections - archive of missions related essays
-Missions Dictionary - Comprehensive dictionary of world missions
-Mission Bibliographies - Wide number of resources for world missions
-Mission Quotes - large selection of quotes suitable for church bulletins
-Mission Links - good selection of missions websites
-Missions in China - various essays by Dr. Enoch Wan
-Mission Process - missions articles by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen
-Essential Mission Tasks - articles on the work of missions by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen
-The Discipline - articles on the theology and strategy of missions by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen
United States Center for World Mission
Stated Purpose of the United States Center for World Mission:
The U.S. Center for World Mission (USCWM) is a community dedicated to making the glory of God fully known, and to bringing all the people groups on the earth to worship and obey God (as revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ).
The USCWM produces and publishes resources to motivate and equip Christ's body to join Him in His Biblical purpose to "bless all the families of the earth" (Genesis 12:1-3). The USCWM also engages in a variety of activities toward ensuring, as soon as possible, that each distinct people group is "reached"—that a viable movement is established to evangelize and disciple each people group.
Churches and prospective missionaries face many obstacles to effective involvement in reaching unreached peoples. Mission agencies and field missionaries face another set of obstacles. By gathering, applying and publishing insights in each of these realms, the U.S. Center for World Mission advances shared solutions to common hindrances in the mission effort.
EveryPeople.Net
Stated Goal of EveryPeople.Net
The goal of EveryPeople.net is to develop means to bridge the gap between Christian Web sites and Web sites designed for Christians who are already actively involved in missions.
The World Wide Web contains a wealth of information, resources, and opportunities to help Christians get involved in God's great campaign to reclaim his world. But little exists to catch the attention of Christians who have minimal missions awareness and direct them to this wealth.
EveryPeople.net is, therefore, intended to be a test site for development of a web application to collect information to motivate and enable Christians to get involved in God's worldwide mission and provide means to make this information available in a manner such that it can be embedded in existing Christian Web sites where it may be seen by the average Christian Web surfer.
The Traveling Team
Stated Purpose and Overview of the Traveling Team:
Our purpose is to glorify God by educating and equipping college students to become World Christians who fulfill their responsibility in World Evangelization
Overview
What if college students truly believed they could change the world? What if they truly had a passion for the lost? What if all the misconceptions of missions in the minds of people were gone? What if they understood all their opportunities to cross an ocean with their degree?
they will... How?
A team of mobilizers has launched out to spend each school year traveling to campuses, churches, and conferences throughout the United States. They will educate and recruit to Christ's Global Cause with an emphasis on the 10/40 window. The team will give Biblical messages and motivational testimonies. They will also spend time meeting with students individually in order to counsel and mobilize them to take the next step in becoming a world Christian. The team will not be recruiting to an organization but to a vision.
Why?
Because there are millions of college students who are clueless to God’s heart for the world. They are looking to live for something that is bigger than their major but are not finding it. Their view of missions is an old guy in a green suit showing slides. We need to break down all the misconceptions that even the word "missions" brings to mind.
What?
After challenging the student’s world perspective, the team will give them application steps during both the corporate and one to one times.
They can provide them with resources such as books, magazines, websites, and videos.
They can work through follow up material such as lessons and Bible studies.
They can link them in to several prominent mission agencies to allow them to take further steps.
They can take part in a 7-week summer missions training project in Los Angeles, CA that will train them in mobilization.
Perspectives Organization
Description of Perspectives - From the Perspectives WebSite:
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is a dynamic course where you'll discover what God is doing around the world and consider your part in His purposes.
Perspectives will help you understand God's plan for our world and for your life as you explore the following topics:
-Biblical - God's unchanging purpose for the nations
-Historical - Expansion and pioneers of the Christian Movement
-Strategic - What are "unreached people groups" and why are they so important to complete God's eternal purpose?
-Cultural - The Gospel and cross-cultural communication
Perspectives is offered throughout the year at extension sites around the world. Over 60,000 people have taken this course in North America alone, with over 12,000 alumni in New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, and other countries. Perspectives is also available in Spanish and Korean, and other translations are in progress.
Undergraduate and graduate credit is available through schools such as Trinity International University and other cooperating institutions. Perspectives is also offered online and by correspondence. In addition, over 100 schools use the Perspectives Reader in their missions courses (over 120,000 in print).
With over 600 instructors and more than 150 locations annually, over 6000 people are exposed to some of the most innovative missions minds each year. Perspectives is taught by professors, missionaries, & teachers who have seen God at work all over the world. Instructors include people like Don Richardson (missionary to the Sawi people and author of Peace Child), David Bryant (author of In the Gap, former mission specialist for InterVarsity, now Chairman of Concerts of Prayer International), and Ralph Winter (missionary to Guatemala and visionary founder of the USCWM).
Urbana Resources
Purpose of Urbana from their WebSite:
For generations Urbana has sought to accomplish four objectives:
1. Declare God’s character and mission as revealed in Scripture (missio Dei).
2. Inform participants about the current realities in global missions.
3. Call all participants to join God’s mission.
4. Motivate participants to serve in global and crosscultural missions.
We use the word “mission” to describe the process by which God is redeeming his creation. One day this process will be finished. The word “missions” describes human efforts aimed at bringing the message of reconciliation between God and people.
Urbana is designed for university-educated Christians between the ages of 18 and 30, but we welcome people of any age interested in missions. Many who attend Urbana are undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni from universities and colleges all over North America. We believe students and recent graduates who make commitments to missions have the potential to affect world realities for the next 50 years.
Urbana has a number of partners that participate in and benefit from the convention:
- Mission agencies and Christian educational institutions.
- Cultural and ethnic groups who together reflect the reality of God’s kingdom.
- Parents and pastors of participants who find Urbana a source of information and influence, as they seek to guide men and women making choices in obedience to God.
- Student leaders from around the world who translate the Urbana objectives into their own national and cultural contexts.
Mission Finder
Classified Directory of Christian Mission Opportunities
From the Mission Finder website:
The founders of this site state that they developed this website for the purpose of providing assistance to committed Christians who want to find a suitable mission agency with which to work. In our own small way, we've "been there, done that." We draw upon years of mission experience, a good data base, and our own network of relationships and contacts. Since then, we have helped - at no cost to them - tens of thousands of people find their place in mission projects, worldwide. We are evangelical Christians. We are not affiliated with any church or mission organization, and unless noted otherwise, the organizations we list aren't either, to the best of our knowledge.
Missions Resource Network
Missions Resource Network hosts many useful resources for individuals and churches considering the most effective way to plant churches and get involved in missions.
Statement from this website:
The purpose of MRN is to develop and promote services and resources that bolster global evangelism through more effective church-planting.
Missions Resource Network is dedicated to four key strategies:
1. Mobilize church-planting teams
2. Multiply the number and effectiveness of missions-active churches
3. Nurture missionaries and their families
4. Advance strategic thinking and cooperation in missions
Network for Strategic Missions
A missions mega-site with hundreds of agency listings and over 15,000 mission related articles
Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies
The stated vision and mission of EFMA is:
EFMA's vision:
To see mission organizations and their leaders, learn in global community, serve at the highest capacity and pursue intentional synergy that accelerates the missional work of Jesus.
EFMA's mission:
To facilitate relational and developmental initiatives that increase the effectiveness of mission organizations by adding value to their leaders and stimulating partnership in the missions community.
Missionary Care
Resources for Missions and Mental Health
This is a site hosted by Ron & Bonnie Koteskey who state that:
We do whatever we can to help missionaries. We do not belong to any sending agency but help others as someone with no official connection to their agency. Listed below are things we are currently doing, but we are always open to new ways to help. Let us begin with the most general forms of help, continue with helping missionaries through their years of service, and end with specific ministries.
Websites.
We have two websites, www.missionarycare.com and www.crossculturalworkers.com.
Both websites contain brochures and books which people anywhere in the world can visit to read, download, print, copy and distribute the information free of charge to anyone who can use it. www.missionarycare.com freely uses the term ‘missionary’ and is easily found when people search for missionary care. www.crossculturalworkers.com avoids the term so that anyone working in a culture where accessing material on missionaries would endanger their ministry can visit freely.
Besides these two websites the Koteskey’s list other resources for missionary care:
-Brochures - over 40 online brochures in Adobe .pdf format
-E-books - 4 e-books for download
-Database - 800 references on over 100 topics
-Missionary Care through Trans World Radio Broadcasts
-Missionary Orientation - several presentations for the training of new missionaries
-Seminars - Several seminars for missionaries, their families and their careers
-Communicating with missionaries serving around the world
-Care of missionaries throughout the world and at home
-Reentry Retreats
-Missions Conferences
-Serving Youth Pastors and Missionary Kids
Languages of the World by SIM International - Ethnologue
Stated Purposes of Ethnologue.com Ethnologue Languages of the World:
Ethnologue.com is a place where you can conveniently find many resources to help you with your research of the world's languages. Ethnologue.com is owned by SIL International, a service organization that works with people who speak the world’s lesser-known languages.
Ethnologue language data:
The language data you will find on this site came from the Ethnologue database. Once every four years we take a "snapshot" of the contents of the database and publish it along with language maps for many of the countries of the world. The most recently published edition of the Ethnologue database is Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th Edition. The language data from the fifteenth edition is presented in this searchable web version.
The Ethnologue database has been an active research project for more than fifty years. It is probably the most comprehensive listing of information about the currently known languages of the world. Thousands of linguists and other researchers all over the world rely on and have contributed to the Ethnologue database.
Language maps:
We also compile information about the locations of the world's living languages and have created a set of maps which include most of the countries of the world. Each time a new edition of the Ethnologue is published, we include these maps in the printed volumes. The maps can be viewed from the continent and country pages (see individual countries) on this site.
Extensive bibliography:
Keyed to the language information on this site are bibliographic citations for thousands of published works with additional information about the languages of the world. This online bibliography is an invaluable research aid for scholars and others with interest in the world's languages. You can browse using the author, country, serial, or subject indexes, or create your own freeform search parameters.
Computer resources:
We have developed a number of software tools to be used by scholars, researchers, and students in linguistics, anthropology, sociolinguistics, literacy, and related disciplines. These include LinguaLinks and The Linguist's Shoebox, IPA font, and other computer programs, fonts, and resources. Some of these computer resources are available for free download.
Bookstore:
The online bookstore lists publications available from the International Academic Bookstore. These books, written by experienced linguists and anthropologists, are valuable for use in research and as textbooks for advanced linguistic studies.
Voice of the Martyrs - The Persecuted Church
Voice of the Martyrs Stated Purpose:
VOM Five Main Purposes Based on Hebrews 13:3
1.To encourage and empower Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where they are persecuted for their involvement in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by providing Bibles, literature, radio broadcasts, medical assistance, and other forms of aid.
2. To give relief to the families of Christian martyrs in these areas of the world.
3. To equip local Christians to win to Christ those persecutors who are opposed to the gospel in countries where believers are actively persecuted for their Christian witness.
4. To undertake projects of encouragement, helping believers rebuild their lives and Christian witness in countries that have formerly suffered Communist oppression.
5. To emphasize the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of atrocities committed against Christians and by remembering their courage and faith.
The World Fact Book
Information on all the world’s countries by the US Government CIA
The Servant’s Place Recommended Books About Missions
Many of the above websites also list many additional books and other missions resources including videos.
The following books are suggested as a basic missions library for home or for the church.
A Mind for Missions: Ten Ways to Build Your World Vision by Paul Borthwick, NavPress, 1987
Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson, Gospel Light, 2006
Faith That Endures by Ronald Boyd-MacMillan, Revell Books, 2006
How to Be a World Class Christian by Paul Borthwick, Gabriel Publishing, 1999
Introducing World Missions by Scott A Moreau, Gary R. Corwin and Gary B. McGee, Baker Book House, 2004
Let the Nations Be Glad, 2nd Edition by John Piper, Baker Book House, 2003 (See excerpt above)
Lords of the Earth by Don Richardson, Gospel Light, 1979
Ministering Cross-Culturally, 2nd Edition by Sherwood G. Lingenfelter and Marvin K Mayers, Baker Book House, 2003
Mission in the Old Testament: Israel As a Light to the Nations by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Baker Book House, (Reprint) 2000
Missions: Biblical Foundations and Contemporary Strategies by Dr. Gailyn Van Rheenen Zondervan Corp. 1996
More Than One Way? By Dennis L. Okholm and Timothy R. Phillips, Zondervan Corp., 1995
Operation World: When We Pray God Works by Patrick Johnstone, Jason Mandryk, Robyn Johnstone, Authentic Media, 2001
Peace Child by Don Richardson, Gospel Light, 2005
Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Peter T. O’Brien, Intervarsity Press, 2001
Serving as Senders by Neal Pirolo, Emmaus Road International, 1991
This book is also available on-line at the Blue Letter Bible Site
Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot, Harper, San Francisco, 1989
The Church is Bigger Than You Think by Patrick Johnstone, Christian Focus Publications, 1998
The Reentry Team by Neal Pirolo, Emmaus Road International, 2000
Through No Fault of Their Own by William Crockett and James Sigountos, Baker Book House, 1991
Through Gates of Splendour by Elisabeth Elliot, Tyndale House, 1986
What is Mission? Theological Explorations by Andrew J. Kirk, Fortress Press, 2000
