Why Do International Missions Matter?
Key takeaways:
- Jesus calls His disciples to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). He wants us to share the Gospel with all nations—not just stay focused on the needs of the world we can see for ourselves!
- Jesus came for everyone. 2 John 2:2 puts it this way: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
- Millions of people around the world, specifically in India, have never heard the name of Jesus before. Meanwhile, U.S. Christians put little priority on reaching them. It’s up to us to close that gap.
It’s a question that believers across the U.S. are asking—maybe you’re one of them! It’s easy to look around our own cities and see a million different needs right in front of us. Sometimes, this tempts us as Christians to focus all of our attention on the issues we can see for ourselves, forgetting about God’s work taking place around the world. It’s overwhelming to think about global needs when we consider the many problems we want God to fix in our neighborhoods! Wouldn’t it be easier to devote our attention toward the issues that feel physically within reach?
God certainly wants us to demonstrate His love in our own communities. We should be a light for Jesus in our daily walks of life—at work, at our kids’ schools, in our social lives, and through our involvement in local churches and charities. But if we only give our attention to local needs, we’re missing a great opportunity and invitation.
As Jesus prepares to ascend into Heaven after His resurrection, He leaves His disciples with these parting words, known as the Great Commission: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus’ command to reach “all nations” can’t be missed! He’s instructing His disciples to go beyond the needs they can see right in front of them and make disciples around the world.
At Mission India, we believe that we’re called to do the same. After all, Jesus didn’t just come for our own communities—He came for everyone. 1 John 2:2 puts it this way: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” If Jesus came for the whole world and asks us to make disciples of all nations, we can’t allow ourselves to miss the spiritual and physical needs around the globe!
It just so happens that India is a key place that we can’t afford to ignore as believers. The spiritual needs of this nation are unfathomable—the Christian presence in India is so small that millions of people there have never met a Christian, had access to a Bible, or even heard the name of Jesus. Meanwhile, when asked where global missionary support should be focused out of all the countries in the world, only 7% of U.S. Christians answer “India.” The most popular response to the question? 20% said support should stay right here in the United States (Barna Group).
So, why do international missions matter?
Because if we solely focus on the needs of the world that we can see for ourselves, we’re ignoring millions of people who are stuck in spiritual darkness, desperate for hope, and would be eternally changed if only we, as Christians, would step out and share the love of Christ throughout the world.
