Equipping the Church to Send Well

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Mobilizing and Mentoring for Missions: Ten Key Considerations for Every ChurchTatlock and Burnett assert that the local church, not the missions agency, holds the primary responsibility for mobilizing and mentoring missionaries to fulfill the Great Commission. To do this effectively, churches must adopt strategic and intentional programs rather than merely reacting to volunteers. Mobilization requires strict adherence to biblical qualifications; candidates must possess the character traits of church leaders, as personal flaws can cause significant damage in cross-cultural contexts. Consequently, churches must rigorously test potential missionaries regarding their caliber, competency, and compatibility, while confirming their internal and external calling.When sending missionaries, the church must provide active spiritual and financial support, partnering only with agencies that align with their doctrine and vision. The authors warn against rushing candidates to the field; instead, churches must mentor them in theology and ministry skills at home. While the local church builds character, it should rely on agencies for specialized cross-cultural training to prevent "missionary malpractice" resulting from cultural ignorance. Furthermore, churches must vigilantly guard against "mission drift," ensuring that social ministries never displace the central priority of gospel proclamation.Complementing these practical principles, Burnett presents Psalm 67 as a biblical model for prayer, shifting focus from local concerns to global worship. The psalm outlines three priorities: praying for nations to receive the blessing of salvation, praying for all peoples to praise God, and praying that God uses believers' material resources to reach the world. Ultimately, the goal of missions is that the nations would fear and praise God, and the church’s role is to faithfully deploy its resources toward this end.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730