There is hardly any church that would deny the importance of mission work. However, the definition of mission work seems to be unclear at best and confusing at worst. A young Christian woman may call herself a missionary doing mission work because she is going to teach English in an Asian country. A church may think it is heavily involved in mission work because it sends church members every year to dig wells and build houses in an African country. Are they doing mission work? If that is all that mission work is, does it not imply that non-Christians can also do mission work, and even do it well? We must go to the Scripture to find the definition of mission work as Jesus commands it of His Church. 

The clearest passage that defines mission work is Matthew 28:19-20. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded His apostles to go and make disciples of all nations. Notice that the apostles were not just ordinary Christians, but they were appointed and set apart by Jesus to preach the gospel and build up churches. They were the first ordained ministers in the early New Testament church.  

Then Jesus told them how to make disciples of all nations; that is, by baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that He has commanded. Notice baptizing implies church planting because baptism, among other things, is a sign and seal of our entrance into the visible church (1 Cor. 12:13). Jesus also promised to be with them always even to the end of the age. Jesus’ promised presence implies their earnest prayers for the power of the Holy Spirit by which the kingdom of God is advanced.  

Jesus’ command was put into practice in Acts 2. Three thousand souls were converted through the apostle Peter’s preaching. After conversion, they did not just go back home and read their own Bibles. Rather, according to Acts 2:41, “those who gladly received his word were baptized,” and they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” These Christians gathered to receive the teaching of God’s word, partake of the Lord’s Supper, and engage in prayer, in the context of the local church.  

So, mission work, as defined by Jesus and demonstrated by the apostles, is essentially the local church sending out men who are ordained ministers to plant churches in other ethnic or cultural or linguistic groups through the preaching and teaching of God’s word, the administration of the sacraments, and earnest prayers for God’s kingdom. Anything less than the ordinary means of grace, namely, word, sacraments, and prayer, cannot be properly called mission work (WSC QA. 88).  

There are many good works that the church may accomplish on the mission field which meet physical needs, such as distributing food, drink, and clothing, digging wells, providing medical care, etc. This kind of work should be called mercy ministry. Mercy ministry is biblically mandated and highly valuable. Nevertheless, mercy ministry should not be confused with mission work, which meets the spiritual needs of people by the ministry of God’s word.   

Mercy ministry can be very helpful with mission work, especially in reaching unbelievers and meeting missionaries’ physical needs. But mercy ministry in and of itself is not mission work. Mercy ministry should always support and serve mission work, rather than substitute for mission work. 

Jesus did not confuse mercy ministries with mission work. In Luke 4, when the crowd asked Jesus for more healing miracles, Jesus said, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent” (v. 43, emphasis added). Mission work is centered on preaching the gospel with the goal of church planting.  

Rightly understanding what mission work is has several implications for the church and Christians.  

First, the Church weakens and even loses its gospel witness if it gets the definition of missions wrong. If the church merely sends Christians to do mercy ministries in other nations without sending ministers to preach the gospel and plant churches, then what they do is not that different from any non-Christian charity agency. The world would not be amiss to assume, then, that this form of Christianity is merely another religion that teaches moralism. 

Second, our understanding of what mission work is reflects what we believe is the greatest human need, and ultimately what we believe the gospel is. As much as we ought to love our neighbors by taking care of their material needs (James 2:15-16), the greatest human need is not food and drink, but to be saved from sin and misery through Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:21). If a church pours large portions of resources to feed the poor in other nations and yet hardly supports any gospel-preaching missionary, then it probably shows the church’s inadequate understanding of the gospel.  

Third, because mission work is centered on the preaching of the gospel and church planting, it requires godly men gifted with teaching and shepherding. Churches, as far as the Lord provides resources, ought to support seminaries that are sound in doctrine and focus on training men to be pastors, and to take the initiative to help train, encourage, and support gifted and called men into the mission field.  

Fourth, on a personal level, if you are a man aspiring to be a missionary, do not just go and do whatever you think is good, but talk to your elders and ask them to evaluate your character and ability to teach. If they think you are a good fit, and get solid training from a good seminary while faithfully participating in the worship and service of the church. Mission work is the work of the church, and therefore missionaries ought to first and foremost be faithful churchmen and be sent, supported, and supervised by the church (Acts 13).  

Fifth, what if I do not have the gift of teaching and yet still want to go to the mission field? And what if I am a woman who may not preach and teach publicly at church (1 Tim. 2:12-13)? As mentioned above, there are many good works, especially mercy ministry, though it must be distinguished from mission work, that can and should serve and support mission work. If you are serious about mission work (which you should be!), then it is best that you do good works not just to meet people’s physical needs, but to directly help the gospel preaching and church planting. For example, if you are good at teaching English, you may use your teaching to help connect unbelieving students to the church planting on the mission field. Discuss with your elders what particular gifts you have that may be useful to help with the gospel preaching and church planting overseas.