Converge, Week 2 - Day 3: The Mission Starts Here

Converge, Week 2 Day 3: The Mission Starts Here Devotional There’s a temptation in Christian circles to only look outward – to focus on missions ‘out there’ while neglecting the mission ‘right here.’ We get excited about supporting ministries in distant places while our own families, churches, and communities lack the spiritual foundation they desperately need. But here’s a crucial truth: if we don’t establish the mission right here, we’ll have nothing substantial to offer anyone out there. Think about it like building a house. You can’t construct the second floor without first laying a solid foundation. Similarly, effective outreach and church planting require strong, established churches with deep roots and robust infrastructure. When we invest in our local church, train disciples in our own community, and build spiritual strength in our families, we’re being strategic. This doesn’t mean we ignore global missions or avoid church planting. Rather, it means we understand that healthy, established churches are the ones that successfully plant other healthy churches. Denominations don’t plant churches – churches plant churches. And that requires a foundation of investment, training, and spiritual maturity that can only come from years of faithful building. Consider your own spiritual journey. The people who most influenced your faith were likely those who invested deeply in their local context first. Bible Verse Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her - Ephesians 5:25 Reflection Question How might your approach to ministry and mission need to shift to ensure you’re building a strong foundation ‘right here’ before expanding ‘out there’? Quote “Mission of Jesus is not solely out there. It’s right here. Rightly ordered loves in scripture inform us that if you do not begin by wondering and worrying about the right here of mission, you will never have anything to offer anyone out there in the future.” Prayer Lord, help me to faithfully steward the mission field You’ve placed right in front of me. Give me wisdom to build strong spiritual infrastructure that will naturally overflow into broader ministry. Amen.