The gospel has advanced around the world, and the world has changed. Where we once arrived as missionaries to bring the gospel, we now arrive to find thriving local churches. While having a global impact once required moving to a community for many years, short trips and digital connections allow for impact without relocation. As we think of global missions today, we have to wonder–how can we leverage the presence of growing national churches around a shrinking world as we seek to get the love of Jesus to more and more people in more and more places?
Relationship. We go to learn from and serve those we are growing a relationship with on the other end of the plane ride or video call. Humility. We go humbly in order to develop genuine relationships–ones where we give and receive, bless and are blessed. Service. We go to serve the established national church–or to help establish a national church–in countries we go to.