Evangelism & Missions

It's easy to assume that missionaries are only those who go to foreign lands preaching the Gospel of Christ to people who've never heard it. Christ's command to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19) at first even seems to support this romanticized picture. The words "go" and "all the nations" immediately put us in a "somewhere other than here" attitude. It seems easier to get excited about witnessing for Christ when we imagine going to a place where nobody knows us.

While some people end up going to other countries, most of us stay at home, in our own, much smaller world. And that's OK. When Christ first sent the apostles to all the nations, Christianity was unique to a country only slightly bigger than the state of New Jersey. Today, Christianity can be found in nearly every corner of the globe, part of that due to foreign missions, of course; but much of it due to everyday Christians trying to live their everyday lives like Jesus.

Evangelism is less romantic than we'd like it to be. It requires not just talking about Jesus, but living like Him and treating other people the way He did. And it's not just aimed at strangers; it's a lot harder to tell your best friend or your grandma the truth of Christianity, but that's who most of us usually have to tell. Evangelism isn't a point system in which the person with the most converts wins (Christ has all the converts anyway), it's a holistic approach to faith that aims for the transformation of culture itself. This means the spread of the Gospel and Gospel principles through every avenue at our disposal, whether outright preaching of the Word, political involvement, science and art, or any other means available. It is the spread of the kingdom in the hearts and minds of people, as well as in the very fabric of human society.

Christ compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, saying that it began small but would eventually grow until birds came and landed in its branches (Matt. 13:31-32). Although the task of disciple-making is arduous and often seems entirely unproductive, Christ said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" (Matt. 28:18). These are hopeful words, not in the sense of "I hope that happens," but in the sense of something definite we have to look forward to and remind ourselves of. Christ will not rest until all He has appointed are drawn into His fold. As His Church, to whom He gave the command to make disciples of all nations, we shouldn't either.

"For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10,11

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

 

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Active Filters: 7th grade (Ages 12-13)
"But Don't All Religions Lead to God?"
by Michael Green
from Baker Books
for 7th-Adult
in Evangelism & Missions (Location: XAP-EVA)
$13.00
Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Abandoned on the Wild Frontier
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Against All Odds
by Jim Stier
from YWAM Publishing
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in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99
Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Ambushed in Jaguar Swamp
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
American Indian Prayer Guide
by Danette Maloof, Dean Cozzens
from Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd.
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$4.50 (3 in stock)
Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Assassins in the Cathedral
Trailblazer Books
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$8.99
Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Attack in the Rye Grass
Trailblazer Series
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Bandit of Ashley Downs
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Bandit of Ashley Downs
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Betrayer's Fortune
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Betrayer's Fortune
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Blinded by the Shining Path
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$8.99
Bobby’s Friends
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from Inheritance Publications
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$9.95
Caught in the Rebel Camp
by Dave and Neta Jackson
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Caught in the Rebel Camp
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International Adventures
by Dan Baumann
from YWAM Publishing
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$12.50
Chimney Sweep's Ransom
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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Chimney Sweep's Ransom
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$8.99
Christian Theology and Ancient Polytheism
by Marcia Brim
from Brimwood Press
for 6th-12th grade
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$35.00
Coming of the Mormons
Landmark #37
by Jim Kjelgaard
from Random House
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Created to Flourish
from HOPE International
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$3.00 (1 in stock)
Cry from the Streets
International Adventures
by Jeannette Lukasse
from YWAM Publishing
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$9.00
Danger on the Flying Trapeze
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Danger on the Flying Trapeze
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by Dave and Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Daring to Live on the Edge
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$9.99 $6.00 (2 in stock)
Dayuma
by Ethel Emily Wallis
from YWAM Publishing
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Defeat of the Ghost Riders
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
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Defeat of the Ghost Riders
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Drawn by a China Moon
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Drawn by a China Moon
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Drummer Boy's Battle
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Drummer Boy's Battle
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$8.99
Escape from the Slave Traders
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Escape from the Slave Traders
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Exiled to the Red River
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Exiled to the Red River
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Fate of the Yellow Woodbee
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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Fate of the Yellow Woodbee
by Dave & Neta Jackson
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$8.99
Flight of the Fugitives
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Flight of the Fugitives
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Forty-Acre Swindle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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$4.00 (1 in stock)
Forty-Acre Swindle
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Gold Miners' Rescue
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Gold Miners' Rescue
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Great for God
by David Shibley
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$9.59
Hidden Jewel
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Hidden Jewel
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Hostage on the Nighthawk
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Hostage on the Nighthawk
Trailblazer Books
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Imprisoned in the Golden City
TrailBlazer Books
from Bethany House
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Imprisoned in the Golden City
TrailBlazer Books
from Castle Rock Creative
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in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
It's a Jungle Out There!
Rani Adventures #1
by Ron Snell
from Hannibal Books
for 4th-8th Grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Journey to the End of the Earth
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
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Journey to the End of the Earth
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Kidnapped by River Rats
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Kidnapped by River Rats
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Listen for the Whippoorwill
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Listen for the Whippoorwill
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Living on the Devil's Doorstep
International Adventures
by Floyd McClung
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
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$14.99 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Lords of the Earth
by Don Richardson
from YWAM Publishing
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$9.50 (1 in stock)
Man With the Bird on His Head
by Abbe Anderson, John Rush
from YWAM Publishing
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$7.50 (1 in stock)
Mask of the Wolf Boy
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Mask of the Wolf Boy
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Mayflower Secret
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
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Mayflower Secret
Trailblazer Books
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
Mosque
by David Macaulay
1st edition from HMH Books for Young Readers
for 4th-8th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Praying through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window
2nd edition from YWAM Publishing
for 4th-Adult
in Prayer (Location: XCL-PRAY)
$9.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Princess Adelina
by Julie Sutter
from Vision Forum
Historical fiction / Irish missions for 7th-10th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Queen's Smuggler
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Queen's Smuggler
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Quest for the Lost Prince
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Quest for the Lost Prince
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Religions Of The World
by Elizabeth Breuilly, Joanne O'Brien, Martin Palmer
Revised from Checkmark Books
for 3rd-9th grade
in Tools for Young Historians (Location: BIBWV-TYH)
Religious Worlds
by Max Charlesworth, Robert Ingpen
from Paper Tiger
for 4th-7th grade
in World Religions, Cults and Sects (Location: XAP-WRCS)
Rise of Islam
Modern Knowledge Library
by Anton Powell, edited by Frances Clapham
from Warwick Press
for 4th-8th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
Risking the Forbidden Game
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
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Risking the Forbidden Game
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
Roundup of the Street Rovers
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Roundup of the Street Rovers
by Dave Jackson, Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Runaway's Revenge
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
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Runaway's Revenge
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind
by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Reprint from Laurel-Leaf Books
for 7th-9th grade
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Shanghaied to China
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Shanghaied to China
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
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$8.99
Sinking the Dayspring
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Sinking the Dayspring
by Dave and Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Spy for the Night Riders
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
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Spy for the Night Riders
TrailBlazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
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$8.99
Story of Islam
by Suzanne Strauss Art
from Pemblewick Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
$17.50
Story of Islam
by Suzanne Strauss Art
2nd edition from Pemblewick Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID)
Taking the High Places
International Adventures
by Jemimah Wright, Terry Snow
from YWAM Publishing
for 7th-Adult
in International Adventures (Location: BIO-INTADV)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Tales of Persia
by William Miller
from P&R Publishing
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in History of Missions (Location: XCH-MIS)
$11.99 $7.00 (2 in stock)
Thieves of Tyburn Square
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Bethany House
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
Thieves of Tyburn Square
Trailblazer Books
by Dave & Neta Jackson
from Castle Rock Creative
for 3rd-7th grade
in Trailblazer Books (Location: SER-TRAIL)
$8.99
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