The last thing that Jesus told his disciples was … But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  [Acts 1:8]  Being a witness to the ends of the earth is not a command for just a few select believers.  It is a command for every believer.  Not everyone is called to be a career missionary but every believer is called by God to be involved in world missions either by praying, sending or going.  Domestic ministry (Jerusalem and Judea) is important but equally important is getting the gospel to parts of the earth (Samaria and the ends of the earth) where it has yet to be heard or heard with clarity.  

Missions is not an option.  Every NT church is to be a missions church.  Jesus said … And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [Matthew 24:14] The end will not come until there are believers in Jesus Christ from every people group in the world.   According to the Joshua Project there are still an estimated 2.77 billion people living among 6,918 distinct people groups who have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.  They are concentrated in an area known as the 10/40 Window.  Currently only two pennies of every mission dollar is directed toward these unreached people groups. 

In the Great Commission Jesus commissioned us to partner with Him to make His name known in every people group.   Scripture tells us that we can be confident that God’s name will be made known among all nations. One day every people group will know Him and worship Him. Revelation 5:9 says of Jesus… “You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”   To that promise we say with the psalmist… “May the people praise You, O God; may all the people praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy…”  Psalm 67:3-4a   It is God’s will for all peoples to praise Him and find their joy in Him. Therefore missions exist because worship does not… and this is the most glorious reason why God has called us to go and preach the Gospel to the nations! We “go”, so that worship will arise to Him from among all the people groups of His creation.