Why the Individual and the Local Church could not do much for the missions today?

1. To do more mission work every one must know some thing about the mission field (where there is know knowledge about the mission field there how people can participate in that activity? In Hosea 4:6 "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.)
   
2. They have to develop a regular, systematic Praying habits in the personal, family, cell meetings and in the Church for the safety of the missionaries and their needs and the spread of the Gospel. (The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest.  Luke 10:2)
3. Lack of concern for the unreached areas. The unreached people group and their salvation. (As Apostle Paul said some will be like this as in "2 Tim 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves,…)
4. Not giving proper priority to the mission field, the missionaries, the mission needs. Always things more about the local church and the church building program. (They forget the church has to go beyond the Jerusalem and reach even the whole world as in Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.")
   
5. Not yet learnt to be content (like a child trying to spend every money earned without giving to the missions. In Heb 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have then only God will be with you all the time. Also Apostle Paul said in Phil 4:11 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.)


6. Not having a vision beyond this worldly life. Our Lord Jesus said in Mat 6:19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Mat 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Many are not even thinking about there life in heaven. When they calculate so much for their eighty years of worldly life why they forget the everlasting life in heaven? When they understand this then they will start storing in heaven by doing some thing for God and His kingdom.
   

7. Not getting ready to meet the Lord in His second coming. We may be the last generation in the world. God the Father is removing all the branches which are not giving fruits as in John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, Apostle Paul says spreading the gospel is helping us to get ready for His coming since He is going to come like a thief. In Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Also in Rev 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

What the Local Church Can Do for the mission?

• The Church can call Missionaries and listen to their mission field reports and their needs and start getting a mission burden. Get more mission related books and literatures for the Church library to know more about the mission fields.

• The Church can have a well-written missions policy.

• The Church can have a functioning missions committee.

• The Church can have a faith promise giving program for missions.

• The Church can have men's and women's groups with a focus on missions.

• The Church can have a missionary couple/family to lead Vacation Bible School and have a "penny march" to help raise money for these missionaries.

• The Church can ask any visiting missionaries to speak in the Christian school chapel and Bible class.

• They can have a missionary speaker for Christian school camp.

• Encourage the Christian summer camp where your church kids attend to have a missionary speaker.

• Provide lodging and opportunity for service to graduating Bible college students who plan to go to the mission field. This will give them valuable experience before going on deputation.
  
  
• Provide lodging during the summer for MK's (missionary kids) attending Christian college and help them find summer jobs.
  
  
• Provide housing and even transportation for missionaries on furlough, especially those sent out by your church.
  
  
• Organize a missions trip for interested church members.
  
  
• If the church has a Christian school, have the Senior Trip be a missions trip.
  
  
• Send a construction team to help a missionary with a project on the field.
  
  
• Have a part of the Sunday bulletin dedicated to missions (a quote by a missionary, statistics, etc.)
  
  
• During prayer meeting, summarize the ministry of the missionaries who wrote that week, tell their specific prayer requests, and pray for the missionaries the church helps support.
  
  
• Have members of the church assume the responsibility of communicating regularly with the missionaries the church supports to encourage them and to keep them informed of "back home." They can also send along the church bulletin, a photo(s) of a special church event, etc.
  
  
• Give generously to visiting missionaries (even if you can not take them on for support, you can still help them on their way on deputation or furlough with a good love offering).
  
  
• List the missionaries which the church helps support in a special section of the church directory.

• The Church can Maintain a church Web site with a special section on the missionaries the church helps support including mail and E-mail addresses.
• The Church can have a church missions bulletin board where prayer letters, etc. are posted and where there is a world map indicating location of the missionaries the church helps support.
• Make missionary biographies available for purchase or for lending from a church resource table/display rack.
• The Church can have an annual missions conference or a missions emphasis month (this can include such events as an International Dinner, having missionaries send E-mail messages of greeting to be read at the conference, and having a missionary call during the conference and it arranged so that all in the church can hear the conversation).
• Have pastoral leadership (preaching on missions, public invitations to surrender to full-time Christian service, using stories relating to missions as sermon illustrations, mentioning special missionary prayer requests and praying for them publicly, regularly having missionaries visit to present their field of ministry, etc.).

What the Individual Can Do for missions?

• The Individual Can Pray for missionaries during personal prayer time as well as during family worship time.
• The Individual Can "Adopt" a missionary family or two (perhaps one you have had in your home for dinner when they were on deputation or furlough); sincerely care for and fervently pray for them.
• Send birthday, anniversary, and Christmas cards (again, do not forget the MK's and to get your children involved too).
  
  
• Read more true missionary stories and biographies of missionaries as part of family worship time.
  
  
• Regularly write, E-mail, or phone a missionary (get your children involved as well in writing to the MK's.) (missionary kids)
  
  
• Send care packages.
• The Individual Can Attend all the services in which missionaries are speaking and or presenting their ministry.
• Show hospitality to visiting missionaries on deputation or furlough (be willing to help where needed).
  
  
• Open your home during vacations and summers to MK's attending Christian college "home side" and help them find short-time employment if needed.
  
  
• If the missionaries have elderly relatives living in your area, offer to provide them help and support on behalf of the missionary.
• The Individual Can Host and provide meals for visiting missionaries and their families (By spending time with them you and your family will be richly blessed!).
• Give generously to missionary projects and love offerings for visiting missionaries.
  
  
• Volunteer to serve on the missions committee.
  
  
• Volunteer to maintain the church's missions bulletin board.
• The Individual Can Give out missionary biographies to encourage others regarding missions.

  May the Lord help each one of us to do our best in the days to come for the mission of Jesus Christ.

  Yours in His service

  Rev. T. Marcus Devasahayam.
  Baroda Bible Club