Missions is ultimately about the journey of fulfilling the Great Commission – making disciples of every nation so that those disciples will participate in the realization of God’s Kingdom on earth. But what does this look like? From a global missions perspective it begins with evangelism among unreached people groups. However, living into the Great Commission is more than evangelism – it is also about making disciples, equipping and empowering church planters who will then lead other churches that will produce more disciple makers. If I would stop here many might believe what I just described is the complete picture of missions.
However, missiologists present a deeper understanding of missions from a global perspective by adding one other dimension along with evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. Releasing disciple-makers into the social domains of a city or nation is another important component of missions. Ultimately, the fruit of missions are thriving churches in under-resourced and unreached communities. Releasing indigenous leaders from these churches into areas such as education, entertainment, the marketplace, and government transforms those communities to be more like the Kingdom of God. This understanding of missions is what drives the Global Ends Statement of World Impact:
“The Empowered Urban Poor advancing the Kingdom of God in Every City through the Local Church.”
We must apply a global understanding of missions right here in the urban communities of the United States of America. There are people within under-resourced urban communities and among the incarcerated that do not know the empowerment and liberation that comes through Christ-centered, life transformation. World Impact is committed to evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, church development, and community development among the poor, marginalized, and incarcerated. Through the launching of urban church planting movements we are able to raise up indigenous urban leaders who are prepared to take ownership of the transformation of their own communities.
What this missional work requires is an ability to see the poor, marginalized, and incarcerated the way God sees them. Can we look at the homeless, the fatherless, the gang member, or the incarcerated and see a transformative future? Can we look at people where they are now and have a vision of them becoming church planters, teachers, social workers, hip hop artists, small business owners, or community center directors? This vision takes a radical faith, but that is exactly what is needed to address the challenges of urban and under-resourced communities. We must plant churches in urban communities that are a welcoming refuge, worship community, and leadership development center. In turn, these churches will be set up to release disciple-makers into positions of education, entertainment, health care, the marketplace, and government for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Thriving urban church development can be a powerful difference maker bringing truth, reconciliation, justice, and love.
Read more from Efrem Smith.
