“Thinking Through Outreach Evangelism” – Chapter # 13. Formally starting and then stopping the local mission team. Peter Sammons explores.
So then faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God
Romans 10: 17
Ambassador. Setting the scene.
When an intentional (time- limited, geographical area- limited) outreach mission is planned and about to be put into effect, it is right and proper that individual missioners should be ‘commissioned’ to act as ambassadors, firstly for their own church or fellowship, and secondly for any ‘partnering’ or ‘hosting’ church that is involved (see chapter on facilitated mission).
Why? Firstly, it allows and encourages the appeal to Holy Spirit to anoint the mission, and the missioners / evangelists. Secondly, it secures the prayerful interest and ‘investment’ of the sending church or fellowship. Thirdly, it is biblical!
New Testament example
In the Acts of the Apostles and other New Testament books, missionaries were commissioned to go to specific places. This commissioning occurred in two primary ways: first by Messiah Jesus Himself, and later by the Holy Spirit acting through local churches.
Commissioning by Jesus: Jesus’ instructions to his disciples before his ascension laid the groundwork for future missionary efforts. The “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:18–20 and his statement in Acts 1:8 directed his followers to spread his message globally, starting from Jerusalem and extending to “the ends of the earth.”
Commissioning by the Holy Spirit and the Church: The Book of Acts illustrates how the Holy Spirit guided churches to commission missionaries. For example, the congregation in Antioch was directed to set apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for missionary work through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and the congregation’s leaders sent them out after laying hands on them (Acts 13:1–4).
Paul’s initial calling came directly from the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:15). The Holy Spirit also influenced the missionaries’ travel plans, such as directing Paul away from Asia and towards Macedonia (Acts 16:6–10).
The significance of being “sent”: The term “apostle” originates from a Greek word meaning “one who is sent out”. Jesus commissioned the original 12 disciples, granting them authority (Matthew 10:1). He also sent out 72 others to prepare for His arrival (Luke 10:1). Missionaries in the New Testament were typically sent by a local congregation and reported back to it (Acts 14:27).
Battle ready!
Any mission is a spiritual battle and God’s spiritual enemy, the devil, will oppose all missionary efforts. Commissioning erects a spiritual defence around the forthcoming task, and specifically seeks God’s guidance, protection and anointing. Our battle is not principally a battle of flesh – it is a spiritual battle. But a battle it is!
Yes, like a good soldier, any Christian should be ready for spiritual action at any moment. The ‘arrow prayer’ for strength and wisdom is always effectual. But commissioning by the assembly (church, fellowship) places us under God’s guidance and protection. Commissioning then is more than a ‘nice to have’, it makes a practical and spiritual difference to the enterprise.
Decommissioning
A formal meeting to send missioners home with a blessing is a wonderful opportunity that we should strive to achieve if at all possible.
Firstly, it helps underscore that the phases following a mission (typically the discipling of new believers and the carrying-on of mission in a local context) becomes the responsibility of the local assembly. This is especially true of facilitated missions and where external voluntary missioners have been involved. It’s almost a commissioning of the local assembly!
Secondly, it is a wonderful opportunity to praise and worship God for His blessings that will have been encountered during the mission itself. The sharing of recent experiences of God’s presence and overruling will be a profound encouragement and can only lead to yet more worship.
Finally, decommissioning helps voluntary missioners and everyone else involved in the mission to prepare for whatever happens next, and also to recognize (and seek God’s gracious protection against) that the enemy may counter-attack spiritually once the mission has formally ended. All involved are likely to be tired, if buoyed! Satan attacks typically when we are tired: Matthew 4: 1-3. A decommissioning can also seek specifically God’s ongoing protections during the immediate post-mission phases.
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