The mission field, or the fields of mission? (Reflections on missions, part 3)

SO, yesterday I closed my blog with the question...why do we call it the missions field?? I believe everyone has probably heard that expression many times in their lives.

"Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35

Jesus didn't call it the missions field, he said that they were fields. And, although he could have been talking about the different locations all around the world, I think he was referring to the different areas of ministry that exist on the missions field. For the next few days, I would like to get deeper into the heart of what I started in this series, of what I feel is missing in the modern missions of today. To do that, I would like to look at several of the many different areas there are to minister, these different fields of missions.

Too often we look at missions as going to a lost tribe that have never heard of Jesus, and reaching them with the gospel. Thats the way I grew up, thinking about missions. Some of my favorite where Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China; Adonairam Judson, a missionary to Burma; and David Livingstone, missionary to Africa. These people, with dozens of others, inspired my youth about missionaries...men and women who left all for the gospel, went to unheard of places, faced mountains of trails, hardships, sickness and death, all to reach a tribe, people or nation with the gospel.

For me, growing up, that was the mission field. That was the work to be done. That was what I found myself thinking I would be doing, at the age of 12, when God called me to missions, and even to some point when at the age of 19 a came to Ecuador with my family. That was what missions was, that was the highest calling, that was what it meant to be a missionary.

However, After 10 years on the missions field, I have come to understand that it is much more than that, that there are many different areas and types of ministries that God calls people to, and that are necessary for the balanced growth of the christian church.

It is true that there are pioneer missionaries, ones who will go to a place that has not been reached by the gospel, and plant the seed of God's word in their hearts. But there is so much more to missions then that. There are those that spend their time and skill in language translations, translating the bible into languages that never have had the written word of God. There are those that know how to fly planes, and work with different missionaries or agencies flying missionaries to remote places, or bringing supplies and medicine to where they are needed most. Many who have experience in the medical field, work at clinics, or on medical missions teams, reaching the lost with the gospel as the attend to physical needs as well.

There are also many others, who are a part of the mission field, each in their own field or area, serving as they best know how to, either in support roles, teaching, or even in social works, like orphanages, water supply, solar electricity, among many others.

Can we call those areas a mission field? James seemed to think so: "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction." It can be a big part of missions, of reaching the lost, of fulfilling the commission of the church, which is to reach and care for the trinite part of every culture, people and race; their body, soul and spirit; their spiritual needs, their health needs, and their physical needs. Then the christian church will be moving forward, in victory, changing the mindset and lifestyle of all who come in contact with her and her people, her missionaries!

All of us are missionaries. All of us have a part to fulfill. Even if it's not going to another country, there are many places and people groups around each of us that need the gospel. I will go more into this towards the last day, but we all have a place to fill. There is another area, another field of missions, and that is the supporters. Missionaries are like a man, going down into a well to rescue someone...as he descends down the rope to reach the needy person, up top on the ground, many people are needed to hold the rope so the missionary can go down and back up. The christian church, regardless of who or where, are that support group, that lifeline to the surface, those who partner with missions through giving, through prayer, through encouragement.

So, what is each of our part in this?? What is the most important part?? Are we, as the christian church in this day and age, filling each of these areas, these fields of missions?? or are we missing something?? What is relevant and necessary for this day and age in which we are living, with so many needs around us??

TO BE CONTINUED...