Who Are Missionaries?

Around the dinner table recently, my wife and I were talking about some missionary friends we are looking forward to seeing later this year. Our 6-year-old son chimed in and was asking questions about who they are and what they do, which led me to ask him the question if he knew what the word 'missionaries' meant. 

"Yeah. Of course I do!" he responded.

When I asked him to define who a missionary was, my son replied: 

"A missionary is someone who listens to Jesus, and does what Jesus says to do." 

Instantly tears flooded my eyes while my heart flooded with pride from my son's wise perspective. My children’s view of God and the world never ceases to amaze and challenge me.

Listen to Jesus and follow Him. 

Sometimes we can overcomplicate what it means to be a part of the mission of God. Missionaries serve cross-culturally, of course, but they do so because they are individuals who listen to and obey Jesus. 

And we all can do that. In fact, we are all called to do that.

And that's what being a Glocal Christian is all about - engaging in God's global mission in the cross-cultural mission field that you find yourself in, wherever that might be. Because crossing cultures is something that is the reality in most places in the world nowadays as the world becomes “smaller” and more glocal due to technology and immigration. God’s global mission is played out in our local lives and local neighborhoods. And we are called to be a part of the mission.

And what is Jesus calling us to do?

“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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)

We are all called by Jesus to make disciples, journey with others, baptize new followers of Jesus, and to personally grow more like Christ as we do so.

How would you define missionary? Comment below and I’ll use your response in a future post!