For the official and complete version of the missionary task as defined by IMB, please refer to the IMB Foundations Magazine. Commentary on the missionary task is available in a series of articles, each of which covers one component of the six-part missionary task in order: Entry, Evangelism, Disciple Making, Church Formation, Leadership Development, and Exit and Partnership.
- ENTRY
- Find them
- The role of research
- Understanding people groups
- Understanding levels of evangelization
- Understanding Bible translation
- Understanding the GCC network
- The role of research
- Get to them
- Explore political, economic, religious environment
- Explore access options
- Acquire necessary skills and/or resources
- Develop an ability to communicate with them
- Language (almost always cannot be done in English!)
- Culture
- Find them
- EVANGELISM
- No salvation apart from hearing and believing the gospel
- Making disciples starts with sharing the gospel
- Evangelism is non-negotiable
- Some are gifted
- All are responsible
- Gospel message must be faithful to Scripture and understandable
- Role of language and worldview
- If there is no evangelism, it is not missions
- DISCIPLESHIP
- Goal is disciples, not “converts”
- Disciple = learner/follower of Jesus who is being transformed by the Holy Spirit to be conformed to the image of Christ
- This includes knowledge of Scripture
- This includes transformation of character
- This includes development of skills like Bible study, prayer, evangelism
- This is a lifelong process
- HEALTHY CHURCH FORMATION
- Discipleship normally happens in a local church
- Local church is the automatic, natural home of a healthy disciple of Jesus
- Where there are none, we must start churches
- This was the consistent practice of apostles
- Even where there are churches, it always good to start new churches
- LEADERSHIP TRAINING
- The goal with new churches is maturity
- Self-governing, self-supporting, self-propagating
- Fully able to understand, teach, and obey the Word of God
- Leaders need to be trained
- Know/Be/Do: knowledge, character, skills
- Initial stages are simply discipleship, and this is critically important
- Biblical qualifications are primarily exemplary, what every disciple should be
- Also able to teach
- Knowledge of content, interpretation, application of Bible, along with theology
- Character includes maturity, humility, and integrity
- Skills include teaching, shepherding, evangelizing, discipline
- All should be taught carefully and rigorously
- All can be taught non-traditionally in context of local church
- The goal with new churches is maturity
- PARTNERSHIP AND EXIT
- The goal is not to be there forever
- Stay too long, and you develop unhealthy dependence
- Stay too short, and you leave new believers/churches as prey to wolves; look to the phased process of Model, Assist, Watch, and Leave
- Example of Paul included ongoing involvement even after physically leaving
- Example of apostles also included partnership in the gospel
- Take them with you as you go!