Celebration of the Great Commission

Global Missions Week was a busy week of events. There’s the kickoff dinner, an early morning prayer walk, lunches following missions-focused Chapels, international worship service, coffee with a Missionary, and more. It wasn’t just a list of events, though. Ultimately, it was a week of celebrating the Great Commission as students connected with missionaries and church planters from the International Mission Board (IMB), North American Mission Board (NAMB), and NC Baptist.

As testimonies were shared by missionaries and questions were asked by students, the story of God’s work among the nations began to rise to the surface. We heard of God’s word being spread among college students in Quebec and refugees in Europe, research being done to reach unengaged peoples in one part of Africa and church leadership development in another part of Africa. We heard about church planters persevering among internationals in Denver and Mormons in Salt Lake City. Each of these stories and places a puzzle piece that fits together to reveal a bigger Kingdom picture.

It was an impactful week for SEBTS students and for the visiting missionaries and church planters. Many of the cross-cultural workers expressed that it was valuable to network with people doing similar work and to learn from each other. Catie, who has grown up as a missionary kid in Africa, also said, “I loved that people wanted to know what it is like for me overseas and cared enough to ask about our story.”  The sharing of stories is both an encouragement to the audience and the storytellers.

The week culminated at the International Worship Night on Thursday night put on by Global Theological Initiative (GTI). Something special happened as the campus came together to worship in multiple languages. At the end, students gathered around the visiting missionaries and church planters and prayed over them and their work. IMB missionary Lauren Ulmer who serves in Quebec, Canada noted that it was a special moment. She said, “It was so beautiful to worship and read scripture in other languages, and I felt deeply encouraged by students praying for me at the worship night.”

Isn’t that the very heart of the Great Commission? The call to make disciples of all nations is only truly answered from a heart of worship. One day peoples from all tribes and nations will be gathered singing praises in the throne room for eternity. We saw glimpses of that vision this week. We simultaneously celebrate those glimpses while also being challenged by them. We’re challenged to ask what our own part in the Great Commission is and to answer the question: “How is God asking me to join Him on mission?” It can be a daunting question to answer unless we remember that God simply asks us to take one step of obedience at a time.

So, another question to ask is, “What is the next step God wants me to take?” If you’re a student, that first step of obedience could be signing up for a mission trip this summer. If you’re a pastor or church leader, it may be learning to intentionally care for a missionary in your midst or inviting one to come and speak at your church. For all of us, it is committing to pray for those who go and living life on mission where we are.

It is important to evaluate whether our lives and churches reflect a heart for God’s work among the Nations. If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to cultivating a Great Commission culture, keep it simple. Invite missionaries in and listen to their stories. Commit to praying regularly. Share the Gospel with neighbors. Pray that God burdens your heart and the hearts of your congregation for the lost around the world.

So as Global Mission week comes to an end, we are challenged to action. We just spent a week celebrating the Great Commission, remembering and rejoicing that God is at work around the world. How will we join Him in that work?