From Transactional to Transformational Missions: How Churches Can Inspire Lifelong Engagement

What’s the main thing you’ve been calling people in your church to do or be a part of in missions?

For a lot of us, it’s to give money or attend an event. If our church’s missions interest, involvement or budget are lagging, might it be time for a less transactional appeal?

Engage Global defines a world Christian as “one who understands God’s heart for the world and strategically lives their life in such a way that whatever they do and wherever they are, they are striving to see Him glorified among all nations.” Worldview is the foundational predecessor for more substantial commitment.  

What if we call people to a lifestyle rather than an occasional transaction? Here are some keys to helping people advance missions in their everyday life.  

• As you preach and teach, highlight missions as an important metanarrative of the Bible. Whether it’s the main topic or simply an illustration drawn from missions, people should consistently hear that “God is a missionary God; the Bible is a missionary book; the Church is a missionary institution” (J. Herbert Kane).
• Integrate missions into your entire discipleship plan. How will your people regularly be discipled in missions during children’s Sunday School, youth group retreats, adult small groups and other settings?
• Develop varied pathways into missions for people at different points in their understanding. Ideas I’ve gleaned from churches include quarterly cookouts for people to meet missionaries, an annual six-week missions topic in every small group, a missionary speaker teaching about growing a prayer life at the women’s retreat and local cross-cultural outreach opportunities. One church offers a small group designed for people considering moving across the city or around the world for missional purposes.  
• Teach and model how to make kingdom-driven lifestyle choices. Not all the disciples left Jerusalem after hearing Jesus’ command in Acts 1:8. Neither will most people in your church go to the mission field long term. But living with an identity of sentness (John 17) will shape how we spend our time and money, where we choose to live, how we raise our children and how we love our neighbors and coworkers.  

Fundraising is important, but our giving depends on where we keep our treasure (Matthew 6:21).

How might your church broaden your messaging to call for changes more related to worldview and discipleship?