a ministry for independent, Baptist missionaries and pastors - Acts 8:31
Why Have a Missions Conference?
“We’ve always had a missions conference.” Is that an adequate reason to have one? Are missions conferences in the Bible? If not, should we eliminate them? These questions lead us to answer the question, “Why have a missions conference?” Before engaging in an activity, it is always good to stop and examine our purpose for doing so.
In essence, Missions is the mission of the local church. It is the directive to accomplish our sole purpose of existence...to glorify God (Rev. 4:11). God has already promised that heaven will include those redeemed “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9). This can only occur through our obedience to the command to “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Every believer is commanded to go. This may be across the street or across the ocean. In the early churches, a 20/20 vision was commanded and kept. Initially, this was not the case. The church in Jerusalem continued to be added to when the command was to multiply, too. They suffered from “near-sightedness.” In order to give them a proper “world-vision,” God allowed the church in Jerusalem to receive persecution. Once they were “scattered abroad,” they “went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:1, 4). Once new churches were established in Samaria and the regions beyond, the church in Jerusalem involved themselves in and were aware of sharing the Gospel both home and abroad. The church in Antioch were also involved in sending missionaries and having a 20/20 vision. The churches today also need to have a world-vision and active involvement in sharing the Gospel both home and abroad.
You can imagine the excitement in the church of Jerusalem when Peter and the men came back from Cornelius and shared of the Gentiles’ salvation (Acts 11:18). When Paul came back from his first missionary journey, the church in Antioch gathered together, and “they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27). It was important for churches then to hear the need and supply of the Gospel around the world, and it is just as necessary today.
Missions conferences are simply a specific time set aside for this purpose. It is a tool that can be used. Some churches have a “Missions Emphasis Sunday” or some other event, but the fact is, they are striving to keep the world-vision before the church. The effects of having such events or missions conference are beneficial for both the missionary, the church, and the lost around the world. The church is led to give more, witness more, pray more, and even go themselves. God has used missions conferences or the like in calling and guiding His children to full-time missionary work. The benefit also pours over to the missionaries present during the missions emphasis. The missionary becomes personally attached and partnered with your church through the churches prayers and financial support. The end results in the missionary reaching the field, sharing the Gospel, seeing people saved and brought into a body of believers, and God being glorified.
Before you jump into your next missions event on your church calendar, be sure to first stop and consider the purpose of the event. Only eternity will tell the results of having those times to focus on world-evangelisation as a church and be moved to be involved in it.
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