Domestic Missions

 

In my early years as a Christian, when the topic of missions came up, it was always international missions. It was about the need for the nations in Africa, South America, Asia and others. I would have opted for a nice South Pacific Island where the temps are in the 70s and 80s year-round. But that’s the selfish me trying to find a cushy comfortable spot. But the Lord never called me to international missions, nor did I ever have a true desire to be involved in that type of ministry. My calling was always for domestic ministry or ministry here at home. I knew the Lord had called me to church ministry here in my homeland and so I followed His lead and gave my time and effort to those needs. He moved me around this country from west to east and back and finally to retirement in East Texas.

But in between, I had the opportunity to see those who were in need of not just the Lord but in some cases, the basics to survive. On a trip to Eastern KY, I witnessed some extremely needy people. Some who knew Jesus and some who didn’t. The ones who knew Jesus were thankful for what they had and never complained and the ones who didn’t know Jesus gave us the opportunity to tell them and encourage them. A lot of these people in areas such as this have been forgotten. Big corporations come in and employ people for a few years and after the big corporation has made their money, they pull out leaving those people high and dry and in need. The needs I saw just for descent living conditions were awful and heartbreaking.

But the Lord had and has sent His people there on a permanent basis to help physically and spiritually as they can. Volunteers from churches in that part of the country come to help with repairs and ministry. They purchase the needed materials and make the repairs. Most stay for a week and accomplish a great deal of work both physically and spiritually in that time. I witnessed homes without water hook ups, electric or gas was not available, homes in need of much repair. I was only there for two days; my mission was to set things up for the team which would follow for a week-long stay. They would accomplish needed home repairs and ministry needs and the people there were more than receptive. They were happy to know someone cared about them and their needs.

But when you go into many churches, you will rarely hear about the needs of the people in that part of the country. You will always hear about the needs in African nations, Arab nations, the Dominican Republic and Haiti and other places around the world. I’m not saying those places don’t need to hear the gospel because they do. But there are places and areas in this country, the U.S., that also need to hear it. It’s just my opinion, but I think too many Christians and churches in this country believe that this is an established Christian nation and there is no need for domestic mission ministry. But here’s a cold hard item; other countries are sending missionaries to this country. Many refuse to belief that but they are here. Many Christians, not missionaries, have come here to be free of the oppression in their home countries. But when they attend churches here, they discover they are no where close to what they had at home. Then they return to their oppressed home just so they can worship in a church which is committed and serious about Jesus.

And then there are the local churches who do send people on domestic missions. They go to the reservations of Native Americans and repair buildings and dig ditches and never mention Jesus. That’s not a Christian missions, that free labor. These are vacations for youth groups with adult supervision. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us to take His message to all the nations, but it starts first at home.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

It starts at home. That can mean in your own home, and it should, and also in the home area where you live. He told them to tell the people in Jerusalem, their home area, then Judea or maybe the state where you live. Then to Samaria, or the region or country and then to the world or foreign missions. But too many churches and Christians think they need to be sending missionaries to a foreign nation. Maybe it seems fashionable or just the thing to do because the church down the street does it and they can’t allow that church to make them look bad or lazy. I don’t know what the real reasons are and maybe I shouldn’t speculate. I do know that there is serious Christian work being done by American missionaries around the world. That’s not the issue. When a person gets saved and knows that he/she has been called to that ministry, then they should answer that call. But when churches drum up business, so to speak, by convincing in house Christians to make a mission trip because it is the thing to do, that’s wrong.

I have friends who served for fifteen years in foreign missions. The organization they were with provided needed medical services and the gospel. It’s how Jesus served people. Provide for their need and tell them about Jesus. There will always be a need for foreign missions and missionaries but not at the expense of the homeland needs. Evangelism is a dying ministry. I’m not referring to the guy who travels around from church to church preaching the gospel. I’m referring to the individual Christian telling his friends, family and co-workers about Jesus. I’m referring to outreach ministries in churches. They have service maybe one to three times a week but never take the gospel outside of the church to the community. These are domestic missions also.

The Church in this nation has become a mixture of entertainment, feel good lectures, health and wealth centers and non-Biblical sermonettes. Some are nothing more than a gathering to hear about the secular social problems in this country and how to fix them. The gospel is never heard and that’s the only real fix for those issues. Evangelism is taking its dying breathes and is in need of real gospel life support. And yes, there is a huge need for more domestic mission work and evangelism in the country. Stop the political talk and the bickering back and forth about it. Stop placing faith in the politician instead of Jesus. There is a serious need for a purging in the Church and it needs to start yesterday.

There are so many places in this nation which need to hear the gospel from the inner cities to the hollers in the Appalachians. Don’t forget about your own backyard while planning a mission to an international site. Listen to the calling the Lord has given you and don’t try to convince yourself it’s foreign missions when He wants you to stay home and do that work. There is a dire need for domestic missionaries.

-Bill Petite