MISSIONS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH BEGINS HERE: How to Inspire Your Church for Global Impact

If our experiences are anywhere alike, mobilizing a congregation for global outreach can feel like an uphill battle. Chances are high that as a missions pastor you encounter apathy, resistance, or uncertainty when encouraging your church to engage in global missions.

You may have faced similar challenges:

people expressing missions fatigue,
questioning the relevance of international outreach,
or simply feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life.

Many of us are experiencing this reality.

More importantly, you are not the one ultimately responsible for inspiring missions engagement. That role belongs to the Holy Spirit. Our job as missions leaders is to partner with Him.

The Mobilization Series

In last week’s post, we laid the foundation for understanding what mobilization truly is — and what it isn’t. We explored how missions mobilization goes beyond recruitment and fundraising, calling every believer to engage in the Great Commission in a meaningful way.

Now, we take the next step:

How do you, as a missions leader, actively inspire your congregation to embrace missions as part of their calling?

There are three essential components to this:

A Biblical Story and Mandate – Grounding missions in God’s Word.
Awareness – Cultivating an understanding of global need.
Prayer – Igniting a commitment for intercession and action.

These three elements are Steps 2,3, and 4 in the Mobilization Roadmap. This downloadable PDF is a practical guide to help you integrate missions into the DNA of your church.

Let’s explore these three steps in depth.

1. A Biblical Story and Mandate: Missions is God’s Plan

Missions is not a new initiative or an optional church program—it is central to God’s redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation.

When members of your congregation understand this, they begin to see missions as an essential part of their faith. It’s not an extracurricular activity anymore.

You might want to ask yourself: How well do members of my church understand the biblical call to missions?

If your church is not engaged in missions, the first step is to teach the biblical foundations.

The Bible is full of missions narratives that show God’s heart for all nations:

Genesis 12:1-3 – God’s promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him.
Psalm 96:3 – "Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples."
Matthew 28:18-20 – The Great Commission calling every believer to make disciples of all nations.
Revelation 7:9 – A vision of a multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation worshiping before the throne.

The next question to ask: How can I integrate missions into regular church teaching?

Incorporate missions themes into weekly sermons and small groups.
Use biblical stories like Jonah, Paul’s missionary journeys, or Jesus’ ministry to Gentiles.
Highlight the “people group” concept to clarify what Jesus meant by “all nations.”
Make missions an act of worship, not just an obligation.

2. Raising Awareness: Inspiring Passion for the Nations

Even in mission-minded churches, a lack of awareness can stifle engagement.

Many believers simply do not grasp the urgent need for gospel workers among unreached people groups. They may not realize that over 3 billion people still have little or no access to the gospel.

How can I effectively communicate the needs of the unreached to inspire engagement?

Storytelling: Share missionary testimonies, conversion stories, and updates from the field.
Visuals: Use maps, statistics, and video content to highlight areas where the gospel is still unknown.
Missions Sundays: Dedicate services to exploring specific people groups, regions, missionaries, or needs in the mission field.
Social Media & Digital Tools: Engage younger members with videos, podcasts, and interactive missions content.
Youth & Young Adults: Create mission internships, short-term trip opportunities, and cross-cultural experiences.

When people see and hear what God is doing globally and the urgency of the needs, their hearts are stirred to respond.

3. The Power of Prayer: A Gateway to Missions Engagement

Before a church is actively sending, giving, or going, it should be praying. Missions movements always begin with intercession.

How can I help my church develop a culture of prayer for missions?

Start a weekly prayer meeting dedicated to interceding for the nations.
Introduce a “Pray for the Unreached” initiative, focusing on a different people group each week.
Encourage members to pray for missionaries by name—when people pray, they develop a connection.
Provide a missions prayer guide that aligns with your church’s partnerships.
Facilitate a global prayer experience, such as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Prayer transforms passive spectators into active participants. It aligns hearts with God’s will. It opens doors for greater involvement in His mission.

Next Steps for Your Church

The journey of missions mobilization starts with inspiration.

By grounding your church in Scripture, increasing awareness, and cultivating prayer, you lay a foundation for engagement.

The Spirit moves through these avenues, stirring hearts toward action.

What Else Will We Cover This Month?

Once your congregation is inspired, how do you move them from awareness to active participation?

That’s exactly what we’ll explore in next week’s post. Make sure to download the Mobilization Roadmap to have the full picture. And here is your topic-of-the-month overview .

We’ll discuss practical steps for moving beyond inspiration and transitioning into action—equipping, involving and developing leaders, and inviting your church to participate.

In the meantime, if you’re feeling stuck in mobilization efforts, we invite you to join our live coaching workshop:

Overcoming Roadblocks in Missions Mobilization

📅 Date: February 27, 2025

⏰ Time: 2:00 pm EST

📍 Where: Live Online Session (Zoom)

🎟 Limited to 10 participants

Registration opens on the 17th of February. Until then it’s open to the waitlist members of the soon to be launched Leaders in Missions Community.

In this session, we’ll address common mobilization challenges, offer strategies for overcoming resistance, and pray together for the Spirit’s guidance.

[Learn More]

Together, let’s ignite a passion for global missions in our churches and see God’s Kingdom expand among the nations!