By Tyler Henry
When we think of missions and missionaries, we tend to generalize and assume that it means over-seas missions. Doing so we sometimes unintentionally leave out those that are serving right here in our city and community. We have many of our own that work with and for these missions and they, just like the over-seas missions and missionaries, need prayer support to help sustain them spiritually. Jesus calls us to go and make disciples of all nations in Mathew 28:19 and that includes our own. Earlier, in chapter 5, Jesus implores the pharisees to take the plank out of their own eye before they take the speck out of their brother’s. We can take this concept and apply it to missions.
Local missions can effect a change globally because they can act as a catalyst to foreign missions. The log is plucked from the eye of a future missionary God is going to use to wipe the speck from eyes in foreign countries. Prayer is a key component to making this happen, and because of their locale, it could be as simple as giving them a call or walking up to them after church and asking what some of their needs are. It lets them know they are cared for and supported by the church even when they go relatively unnoticed by the majority.
We are a church that seeks to plants churches. To do that, church planters need to be raised up, and sometimes, that is through local missions. Let’s not forget to pray for our local missions.
