The idea of Christ followers being involved in missions is supported throughout scripture. Two very familiar passages are Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8. Both record the words of Christ, telling His followers to go and make disciples of all people by being His witness in all places.
The church is not supposed to only study or learn about missions. The Bible is clear about our responsibility and uses action words like “send”, “go” and “make” disciples to emphasize the church’s role. A church that is sending, going and making will experience a high level of missions participation by its members. Participation in missions is critical to healthy church development, individual spiritual growth and advancement of the gospel. How exciting it is to learn of churches that are missions active, rather than simply missions minded.
Below is a list of Kentucky’s top ten churches this year, in terms of missions participation. Missions participation refers to mission trips, church planting efforts, community ministry, and disaster relief responses. Each of the churches has earned recognition because they had a greater percentage of their worship attendance participating in missions this year than they did the previous year.
- First Baptist Church, Booneville, Brandon Davis, pastor.
- Heavenbound Baptist Church, Elizabethtown, Bryan Shofner, pastor.
- Highland Park Baptist Church, Heidrick, Jared Styles, pastor.
- Louisville Baptist Deaf Church, Louisville.
- Hardinsburg Baptist Church, Hardinsburg, Todd Brown, pastor.
- First Baptist Church, Fairdale, Josh Greene, pastor.
- Ashby Lane Baptist Church, Louisville, James Murray, pastor.
- Corinth Baptist Church, Winchester, James Rediford, pastor.
- Fairview Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, Jeff Buchanan, pastor.
- First Baptist Church, Princeton.
Pastor Josh Greene shared that Fairdale Baptist Church experienced an increase in missions participation because they have “intentionally invested in the community”. Their missions participation has led to increased worship attendance and “God has done a full revitalization of our church”. The key ingredient to the growth and revitalization was the church’s missions participation. “We love our community and want to help wherever we can, expecting nothing in return.” Out of these ministry touches, relationships are developed and the gospel is shared.
I don’t know the story for every Kentucky Baptist Church experiencing an increase is missions participation, but I do know that the more seeds that are sown, the greater the Kingdom harvest. Pastors should lead their people to participate in missions because we’re commanded to do so and we have a gospel to proclaim. However, there are benefits to churches that are sending, going and making disciples through missions participation.
Benefits to the missions participating church include:
1. Improves health and vitality.
2. Generates passionate and exciting worship.
3. Stimulates revitalization and growth.
4. Develops disciples.
5. Puts emphasis on people, not buildings or budgets.
6. Turns focus outward, rather than inward.
7. A greater Kingdom harvest because more seeds are sown.
My prayer is that more churches will experience an increase in the number of people participating in missions, but it won’t happen accidentally. It demands an intentional effort by the pastor and church leadership. How will you lead your church to greater missions participation that results in sending, going, and making disciples?
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