Mission

The word ‘mission’ comes from the Latin root word mitto that means ‘to send’ (from which comes the English word ‘missile’!). Normally we use the term to speak about God’s sending of His people to other nations to preach the good news about Jesus. But mission starts with God’s act of sending His Son into the world to redeem humanity from the effects of sin. Jesus has called all Christians to participate in this great Mission of God and as we answer His calling to go and speak His Gospel to others, whether at home or overseas, we find great joy and fulfilment (and indeed sufferings). This calling is most familiar in what is called the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20: ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’