I've been saving this post for last to cap off the Upstream Collective's Jet Set Tour to Asia because I like it so much. One of the last videos posted was an interview with Caleb Crider about the missionary aspect of the church:



This is an important piece to the puzzle and I'm glad it came out. One of the mission aspects that has been overlooked for many years is the idea of goers and senders contributing to the mission of the church. For too long, missionaries went and churches stayed. Missionaries were the professionals and churches were the bankers. Missionaries spread the kingdom and churches were content to let them do it. What has changed in my mind and what I'm sensing in the conversation is the rediscovery of partnership missions. Paul understood it in his relationship with the Philippians:

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it...
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.” - Philippians 4:10-16

John Piper has also stated and written this clearly, “There are three types of people; the goers, the senders, and the disobedient.” In other words, what I’ve come to understand is that missions is a partnership between two sets of missionaries, those that go and those that send. There is no middle ground.

Ultimately, I think that this is a healthy idea and one that will carry the gospel further and deeper into the hearts of all involved. Which are you, a goer or a sender?

Tags: Missionary Life, Missions