missions

Author and evangelist George Verwer, the founder of the Christian missions organization, OM International, passed away last week at the age of 84. Verwer founded Operation Mobilisation, which later became OM International while living in Europe. He led the ministry until 2003, when he stepped down to focus on additional projects. “Under George’s exuberant leadership and fueled by the passion of believers from many nations to reach those who had never heard the Good News, OM expanded in the '60s, '70s and '80s,” OM International’s official biography explained. Verwer also wrote multiple books, including Confessions of a Toxic Perfectionist, Messiology, Out of the Comfort Zone and Revolution of Love.

The mission that Jesus entrusted to us is not just to send and support missionaries but to make disciples of all nations. It costs, on average, $300,000 to send and support a missionary family for five years. With the same amount of funds, we can equip around 2,000 indigenous pastors and church leaders who already know the language and culture. From a financial and strategic standpoint, you can see the value of Crossing Cultures International's mission.

I encourage you to focus today on your specific calling. If you cannot complete the sentence, “My ministry is _______________,” pray and reflect until you can. Then live every day in alignment with your missional purpose, remembering that “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives” (Annie Dillard).

Former pastor Vance Pitman stepped down from his successful megachurch because he felt called to focus on what he calls the “big C” church.

Pastor David Platt said at a recent conference that Christians need to invest more in mission work to help reach the 3 billion people in the world who are “unreached.”

Pastors and laypeople have dramatically different views about the scope of missions, according to a new Barna survey that probes what Christians believe about Jesus’ commandment in Matthew’s Gospel.

A New York Jewish couple has donated $18 million to help fund Christian medical missions in Africa.

March 6 is World Day of Prayer. Initiated by women in the 1890s, World Prayer Day is a day to pray for and look for ways to support women and children in need as well as to pray for and support local and foreign missions.

This year’s many risks, from fuel-price riots in Haiti to violent unrest in Nicaragua, have forced a fresh reckoning with thorny questions: How much risk is too much?

International Mission Board President David Platt said he would be stepping down from his post at the mission agency.