Reverse mission” refers to the sending of missionaries to Europe and North America by churches and Christians from the non-Western world, particularly Africa, Asia and Latin America[1]
For this model to work best, the missionaries need to be well educated with a transferable skill that can be utilised to be tentmakers while at the same time share the gospel. The premise behind this is simply because Western countries will not admit individuals into their countries who cannot contribute to the bigger objectives of the host country. Therefore, they must apply their training and skills to give back.
These missionaries live in the new communities and deliberately share the gospel and serve in the churches and other fields. Their lives must model good Christian living so that they can inspire the people around them to live for Christ.
Misconception about Missionaries; younger Africans perspective
- It is for older people
- It is for retired people seeking to spend their retirement years in the mission fields
- Missionaries are mostly from western countries
- They must be a family person
- Mostly the males receive this call. Women mostly follow their husbands.
- Why go global before our own problems are solved?
Questions raised by family and friends on the mission calling
- It’s a white man calling, why should I succumb to that?
- Why go to school only to end up as a missionary?
- How will the mission years affect future career?
- Who not just ger a real job?
All the above should not deter anyone from participating in the great commission. Those who love the Lord and love people for Christ will go and share the gospel willingly or at least support those willing to. It does not matter how the world around us perceive mission and missionaries. These words of Jesus below should be our guiding principle:
Mathew 9: 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
What role will you play now that you know?
