MISSIONS EDUCATION

How much do you know about Missions?
​
How much do you know about missions? Are you a missions hero or a missions zero? And what about your church? Is it a missions hub or a missions flub?

Regardless of where you may place yourself or your church on the missions knowledge continuum, there is always room for improvement. And missions education is the way to improve your missions knowledge.
​
​Missions Education falls into three categories.

1. Missions Awareness
   Missions awareness is all about knowing current missions information – world news, current trends, missions news, missions obstacles, your church’s priorities, goals and plans, your church’s missionaries, your denomination’s missions commitment and involvement.
2. Missions Promotion
   Missions promotion refers to keeping missions in front of yourself and in front of the church. This happens through advertising, stimulation and encouragement to personal involvement in missions. It is about the development of the resources necessary for cross-cultural missions – funds, prayer, support, personnel.
3. Missions Education
   Missions education deals with the basics. It is the ongoing development of an understanding of God’s purposes in the world, what missions is, why we do it, where we are headed and what has been done. It starts with Bible study, including the integrating themes of redemption and God’s glory, and includes the historical spread of Christianity, missionary biographies, missions strategies and missions progress.

Now, for those who would say that their missions education is adequate or effective, I would offer the following suggestions for what must characterize effective missions education.

1. Missions education must be ongoing in order to account for new people joining the church, children growing up and for continuing education.
2. Missions education should be comprehensive, covering a broad scope of themes and topics.
3. Missions education should be integrated, provided for and by all departments and programs.
4. Missions education should be compelling. It would be a shame to bore people with God’s global purpose.
5. Missions education should be varied, utilizing a variety of methods.
6. Missions education should be graded for all age levels and all spiritual development levels.

Missions education may utilize the following formats;

• Pulpit preaching
• Elective classes
• Courses as part of the church/Sunday school rotation
• Curricula for small groups
• Training from visiting missionaries
• Video series
• Special events
• Outside courses like Perspectives on the World Christian Movement or Kairos.
• Conferences like the Missionfest or Urbana or CROSS that happen in many cities

​We have some free resources available for use by yourself, your small group or you church to help further missions knowledge through missions education. Check it out here
​
We would also be happy for the opportunity to speak to your church or a missions group, a small group, youth group or a Sunday School class. Contact the office and we will arrange the date.
God’s heart truly is for the nations and it is our great privilege to join him in this pursuit resulting in his great glory and our everlasting joy.

“Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!” Ps. 67:4-5