But all of these definitions only define the “need” mostly applying these geographically. I am not pooh-poohing this. Extremely helpful. But only one snap shot of the larger scenery.

Jesus said, “”For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.” Matt 26:11 The Bible gives a high priority to ministering to the poor and down trodden. You find them in every country. Yet Jesus points to the proirity of a relationship with Him.

We must consider that Jesus wants us first and formost. And like Him we go to those who need healing, comforting and to hear the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, missions is not so much about a task, but rather about becoming intimate with Him and His heart, both individually and as a church family.

I also like the interaction of Leon! Nice!

“I spend a lot of time thinking about how we market missions. I know there are lots of people out there trying to advocate for unreached people and raise support for missionaries working among them. But usually, it seems that missions marketers (they prefer the word “mobilizers) appeal to the “doing” side of things. They cite statistics and show pictures of unreached peoples in an effort to motivate people to action.

What I rarely hear, though, is the “being” argument for missions. That followers of Jesus will constantly be frustrated spiritually until they get on mission. You’re not a real Christian unless you’re a going Christian.

The value of marketing missions as “being” is that it moves us away from worldly metrics (how many, how difficult, how lost), and toward Godly ones (obedience, Christ-likeness, prayer). Missions as being helps people understand who they are in Christ. It establishes a posture for every aspect of life. Framing the conversation around being changes the way we think about missions. Instead of focusing on what missionaries do (construction, medical care, preaching, evangelism), we can focus on who missionaries are (sinners who obediently move in and between cultures to incarnate the gospel). We often hear “I don’t want to do that” but rarely would someone say, “I don’t want to be that.””

I also find it interesting that with your so called ‘controversial’ social issue blogs, church sign blogs and football blogs you get an abundance of comments and dialogue. But, your last four blogs on elders, leadership, fasting & missional lifestyles, which create more dissidence in the society at large as the lifestyle of misfits, not a single comment submitted. Me thinks we find these sometimes too personal. Any comment may cause us to have to actually change our lifestyle. Reading Psalms 82:4 in my devotions, which states, “Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” I was struck that this short statement represented missions at the most essential level. What else is salvation if it is not delivering souls out of the hand of the wicked one. But we must then spend time with the weak and the needy. Most of us (myself included) can barely endure the time looking at the weak and the needy in the mirror every morning.

Pray for me and my neighbors here in Japan. The weak and the needy spending time with those who refuse to acknowledge their weakness and neediness.