In the early history of United States, the "next towns" of the frontier were evangelized by circuit-riding preachers and tent-meeting revivals. Some Christians, however, wanted to take the message of Christ not just to the next town in the next valley, but to the next town on the next continent.

The 19th and early 20th centuries saw an explosion of "foreign mission" interest among Protestant Christians in Europe and the United States. Some of the reasons for the "foreign missions" movement were theological impulses that were born in 17th and 18th centuries. It was 19th century western technology (ships and railroads), however, that made the idea of global movements by large numbers of missionaries feasible. Unfortunately, some missionaries confused the Christian gospel with the western way of life.

The Christian faith is always on the move. Jesus' closing words in the Gospel of Matthew are "Go into all the world" and The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the faith moving out of Judea and Galilee into Syria, Africa, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece and Rome. Philip Jenkins' The Lost History of Christianity recounts a time when the global center of Christianity was in the middle east, spreading east into what is now Iraq, Iran, the "stans," India, and China - south into Nubian Africa - as well as west into the Byzantine empire and what was left of Latin Rome. Only later did Christianity come to predominate in Europe.

The global center of Christianity is now moving south and east to South America, Africa and East Asia. This movement of the gospel is now fueled not just by western missionaries, but by missionaries and indigenous church leaders from throughout the globe. One advantage of Asian and African missionaries is that they change the perception that Christianity is a "western" religion.

In Korea

The first Protestant missionaries came to Korea in the 19th century and Protestant churches have been involved with the life of the Korean people through all the tumultuous events ever since. The first Catholics arrived in the 16th century. Approximately 25% of Korea is now Christian, and today the missionary movement in Korea is growing tremendously. In 1979, Korean churches had 21 mission sending agencies with about 93 missionaries worldwide. There are now over 177 sending agencies, with over 16,000 missionaries in more than 150 countries. Korea sends out more foreign missionaries than any other country in the world except one.

In east Asia itself, there is great missionary energy along the North Korea-China border. Many of the refugees who make it into China are welcomed into Christian homes where they learn about the Christian faith. Some of them become Christians.

Some of those escapees who became Christians make their way to South Korea, and some of them could be found in months past at the inter-Korea border launching balloons into North Korea filled with the gospel message.

Some of those new Christians, however, volunteer to return to North Korea to spread the message of Christ in the land of Juche. If there is anyone who understands that the Christian faith is not an "I got mine" religion, it's someone who volunteers to return to North Korea. Open Doors ranks North Korea as the most oppressive place in the world to be a Christian. It is in a category by itself, nearly 50% worse on the ranking scale than its next competitor in evil. God has delivered those who escape to safety. Those who return are risking everything on behalf of someone else.

Every Christian in a Missionary Church

But what about the rest of us. Are we all to become missionaries?

Some Christians go in Christ's name to all the world - to plant churches, feed the hungry, tend the sick and teach those who want to learn - but all Christians are involved in the mission of the church. The whole church is in mission. Ours is a missionary church.

I grew up in a church that frequently challenged members to consider the call to the mission field, and I don't want to neglect the task of calling men and women to the mission field. Maybe God is calling you to be one of those who go in Christ's name.

But even if you aren't one of those God calls to go, that doesn't mean that you can say, "That's someone else's job. What does that have to do with me?" Everyone in the church is involved in the mission of the church to take the gospel to all the world. If you are not going, you are part of a church that is sending.

You can be involved in a number of ways.

1. Learning. Learn about what the church is doing in the world beyond your front door. Get to know some Christians missionaries who are serving throughout the world.
2. Praying. Remember missionaries and their work in your prayers. Pray for specific places and people when possible. If you don't know specific people and places, go back to point number 1: learn.
3. Encouraging. Develops some personal relationships with those serving in difficult places. Write to them to encourage them. Visit with them if possible.
4. Giving. There's always a need for money.
5. Keeping the Vision Alive. Maintain the vision of a "church in mission" within your congregation. Preach and educate about Christian missions. Host missionaries home on leave. Publish pictures of missionaries and reports of their work.

Looking for a place to learn, give and get involved? Try the Mission Society.

Related:
The Next Towns
Missionaries in Uniform?

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