How can someone hear words that haven’t been spoken to them? How can someone understand something that they haven’t heard? The Apostle Paul talked about mission work in Romans 10:14, saying, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”. There are so many ways we can fulfill our calling as Christians regarding mission work.
Isaiah 6:8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” As stated in our How to Develop an Isaiah 6:8 attitude blog, we should be willing to do whatever God asks us to, including sharing the gospel. It is always a privilege and joy to share with others the amazing works of God! The Holy Spirit within us makes it hard to keep His wonders to ourselves and gives us the overwhelming urge to talk about His kindness and wonderful deeds!
First, let’s understand what it means to be a missionary. By definition, a missionary is a member of a religious group (typically of Christian faith) sent out to spread their faith and teachings. But the definition and traditional approach to missions isn’t the only option you have for your life.
So, why should you be a missionary? The answer is quite simple. In Psalms 96:3, we are told to “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” God does many wonderful deeds in our lives and has shown us the greatest act of love. How amazing is it to be able to spread and offer the same love to everyone near and far? 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. We all have special qualifications that the Lord has given us to fulfill His purpose, whether that is soft skills or technical skills; He will use it all.
When you think of missionaries, do you think of mission trips to foreign countries? If so, you might be thinking of support-based journeys. Support-based workers leave their jobs to enter into a new culture and make disciples. However, in areas of the world that need Jesus the most, traditional missionaries are often unwelcome due to legal and political concerns. Marketplace workers live a missional lifestyle, and Garry R. Morgan describes them in his article as followers who “choose to carry this out in places where there are few (if any) Christians.” We typically don’t associate fields such as marketing, finance, or accounting with mission work, but these fields need Jesus just as much as the regions of support-based areas. 1 Corinthians 22 states, “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Mission work can be done from anywhere with the specific skills and gifts God has given you. OM offers various opportunities to use your unique giftings as a global marketplace worker. The Lord works through us, and scripture reminds us how important we are in fulfilling the great commission. At OM, we come alongside you with internships, short-term trips, vision trips, career coaching, and marketplace opportunities.
Reflect on these passages from scripture. We hope they inspire you to take a step into fulfilling the work God has given you!
Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
John 20:21 “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.””
Acts 4:19–20 “But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.””
1 Corinthians 9:16 “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
1 Timothy 2:5–7 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.”