What is mission mobilisation and why is it needed for every generation?

This is a shortened version of an article originally written by Melody Lam at OMF. Read the full article on the OMF website.

What is Mission Mobilisation?

Mission mobilisation is sharing the vision of God’s global mission, inspiring people to discover their role, and equipping them to step into action. While not everyone is called to be an overseas (or cross-cultural) missionary, every follower of Jesus is called to take part in the Great Commission.

OMF encourages all Christians to get involved in at least one of the six ways– learn, pray, mobilise, send, go and welcome. Each one is crucial, each one has its impact, and all are meaningful ways to further God’s Kingdom.

Why should we mobilise?

The unfinished task of the Great Commission.

With globalisation, advanced technology and abundant Christian content online, do we still need cross-cultural missions? Aren’t all nations already “reached” by the gospel?

A retired missionary once compared sharing the gospel to spreading maple syrup on a pancake versus a waffle. People would hope that when they share the gospel, it is like spreading maple syrup on a pancake and that it would flow evenly, covering all parts of the world. But the reality is that the world is more like a waffle. While some parts of the world experience the sweetness of the Good News, many areas remain difficult to reach and receive the message. The work is not done yet.

According to Joshua Project, there are over 17,000 unique people groups worldwide, with about 7,000 of them considered unreached, representing over 42 per cent of the global population. Asia is currently home to the largest number of unreached people, with 5,402 Unreached People Groups (UPG), meaning those places have too few Evangelical Christians (less than 2 per cent of the population) to effectively share the gospel with the rest of their people group.

“People would hope that when they share the gospel, it is like spreading maple syrup on a pancake and that it would flow evenly, covering all parts of the world. But the reality is that the world is more like a waffle.”

Why should we mobilise?

Steve McElroy, OMF Canada’s B.C. Regional Director writes, "In the past, long-term overseas service was more common. As time changes, it is more difficult for people to make long-term commitments to overseas service for various reasons. However, this generation of workers has the opportunity to fly out for two or three weeks for short-term trips."

Given the shortage of long-term workers and the vast number of Unreached People Groups (UPGs), there is a need to inspire and equip more young people to serve overseas.

Reaching new generations

“Each generation of Christians bears responsibility for the contemporary generation of non-Christians in the world, and that it is the business of each such generation of Christians to see to it, as for lies within its power, that the gospel is clearly preached to every single non-Christian in the same generation.” John R. Mott.

That is why mission mobilisation is crucial and must be recurring. Each generation has to hear Jesus’ commands and be faithful in doing his work until he returns.

What if the church communities are not ready?

While Jesus extended an invitation to all his followers, not every church is involved or ready to embrace it. “It’s easy to disparage churches that seem to be only saying, well, we want to focus on our community. Churches go through cycles of spirituality where God awakens them to the needs of people, whether it’s around them or around the world,” Rev. Kevin Houser said.

There are times when a church is missionally focused, and there are times when it loses its sharpness. There are times when a church shifts its focus from global missions to local ministry. However, it is vital for the church or individual’s spirituality to understand God’s greater vision of being glorified in the world and throughout generations.

How to mobilise church communities?

The divine order: Pray first

John R. Mott said, “Prayer and missions are as inseparable as faith and works; in fact, prayer and missions are faith and works… Before ‘give’ and before ‘go’ comes ‘pray.’ This is the divine order.”

Inform church communities

Steve & Anna Griffiths are OMF mobilisers, serving in Brazil since 2017.

Over the last few decades, there has been a big wave of evangelical Christian growth in Brazil. While churches are sending missionaries to unreached groups in Brazil, Latin America and Africa, not many are going to East Asia or are even aware of the needs there. Anna described their mobiliser role in Brazil as a catalyst to make known the needs of East Asia and the opportunities to serve there. To spread information about the needs in East Asia, Steve, as part of the media team, produces resources, like prayer guides.

Anna recalled a Brazilian woman who discovered her calling to serve in Cambodia after reading a prayer guide. “She got to the page on Cambodia, and she felt God saying, ‘Kelly, this is the country for you,’ and she’s just been on a Serve Asia trip this year, and she’s got a long-term call, and it’s just exciting,” she said.

What will your part be?

As we reflect on the ongoing need for mission mobilisation, the call to share the gospel is as urgent today as it was in past generations. Each generation is called to take charge and ensure that the message of Christ reaches those who have yet to hear. Whether through learning, praying, mobilising, sending, going or welcoming, every Christian can participate in God’s global mission.