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Organizing for Missions: Part 2 by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     On May 12, 1792 William Carey published a little pamphlet entitled, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. By God’s grace, his words inspired the modern missionary movement, and by God’s grace, I’m praying that they will inspire a fresh passion for global missions at Glory of Christ.
     Having urged his readers to commit themselves to prayer for the sake of missions, and having called on his own Baptist denomination to lead the way in forming a mission society, Carey, Andrew Fuller, John Ryland, and John Sutcliff founded the Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Amongst the Heathen (subsequently known as the Baptist Missionary Society and since 2000 as BMS World Mission) in October 1792. This society, along with Carey’s public speaking engagements, inspired others to rise up and form many more societies, to send thousands of missionaries around the world, and to bear much fruit for the glory of God.
     Furthermore, this initial explosion of missionary societies has given rise to so many missionary endeavors over the last two-hundred-twenty-six years that it would literally be impossible to track, much less report on, the amount of fruit that has been borne among the nations of the world. Of course, along with the fruit has come many problems and hurtful errors, but through it all the Lord of the Church has seen fit to glorify his name throughout the earth as his people have risen to take seriously the Great Commission. Oh what blessings have come from Carey’s mustard seed of faith!
     As for today, missionary societies have largely been replaced by missions agencies and a vast number of church-based or independent missionary endeavors. While the scope of the modern missions movement is vast, and the issues involved in it are complex, it really boils down to a basic principle: Jesus Christ has commissioned his Church to take the gospel to the nations of the world by his authority and for his glory. Therefore, every church and Christian must play a part in this global endeavor until the gospel has been heard by every tribe, tongue, and nation on the earth.
     Therefore, GCF has been committed to playing our part in fulfilling the Great Commission since before we were formally constituted as a church. We began by supporting one missionary and then another, and we have made key decisions that have led us to focus our missions efforts and dollars on supporting a few missionaries who are seeking to reach unreached people groups by establishing and strengthening local churches around the world. I encourage you to consult our website (www.gcfmn.org) for the latest information on our supported missionaries, and to contact the Missions Team if you’d like more information. I also urge you to pray and ask Jesus to reveal the part he would have you play in fulfilling the Great Commission.

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