Why Missions? Three Compelling Reasons to Reach the World for Christ
The world is vast, and humanity is diverse. Yet one thing unites every person on earth: our desperate search for hope—the kind of hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ. But here’s a sobering reality: out of the 8.3 billion people alive today, approximately 3 billion have never heard the name of Jesus. They’ve never celebrated Christmas or Easter. They’ve never opened a Bible or stepped foot in a church.
Out of 17,000 distinct people groups on earth, roughly 7,000 remain unreached with the gospel. That means 86% of Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists living in certain communities don’t personally know a single Christian. The statistics are staggering and heartbreaking: in the next hour, 72 women and children will be sold into slavery, 869 will die of chronic hunger, and 1,250 will die from preventable diseases. In the next 24 hours, 155,000 people will die and enter eternity without Christ.
Yet despite this overwhelming need, 98% of missions work happens among people who have already been reached. Only one penny out of every $100 in missions offerings goes to reach the unreached.
So why should we care? Why should missions matter to us? Let’s explore three compelling reasons.
Reason One: There Is a Cause—Humanity Has Fallen
Brothers and sisters, there is a cause today that demands our attention and action: humanity is lost.
Isaiah 53:6 reminds us: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Romans 3:11-12 pulls no punches: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
This is bad news, certainly. But it resonates because it’s true. We recognize ourselves in these verses. We know we’ve broken God’s commandments, said things we shouldn’t have, done things we regret. We deserve judgment.
But here’s the good news: nothing can separate us from the love of God. God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to die on a cross so that we could repent of our sins, turn from our wickedness, and pour our sins on Him. Jesus took the wrath of God that we deserved so that He could give us His righteousness.
Around the world, people live in spiritual darkness. They’re enslaved to sin, bound by false religions, trapped in hopelessness. But they don’t have to stay there. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. There are people waiting—whether they know it or not—to hear this life-changing message.
Consider Mongolia. In 1990, after 70 years of communism, there were zero churches and only a handful of believers in the entire country. But when the doors opened and missionaries flooded in with the gospel, everything changed. Today, there are 600-800 churches and 50,000-100,000 believers in Mongolia. In just 25 years, an entire generation encountered Jesus for the first time.
This is happening all over the world—in the Middle East, India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and beyond. God is doing mighty works in the hardest places on earth. People are coming to Christ, churches are being planted, and darkness is being shattered by the light of the gospel.
Reason Two: There Is a Command to Obey
Even more important than the need of humanity is our obligation to obey Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago, Jesus gave what we call the Great Commission, and it still stands as binding today as it was then.
Matthew 28:18-20 records His words: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Think about the context of this command. Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to His disciples for 40 days. Now He was standing on the Mount of Olives, about to ascend to the Father. These were His final words before returning to heaven—His last will and testament, if you will. The disciples must have been listening intently, hanging on every word.
And what did Jesus say? “Go and make disciples. Tell them about me. Teach them my commands.”
This wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command from the King of kings and Lord of lords. And He promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age.
Some might say, “But God didn’t call me to go to Africa or Asia or the Middle East.” And that may be true. But God has called every believer to be involved in missions somehow. All of us can pray. Most of us can give. Some of us will go. But we all have a part to play.
The command is clear, and the promise is sure: when the gospel of the kingdom has been proclaimed throughout the entire world as a witness to all nations, then the end will come (Matthew 24:14). Jesus will return to earth, and He will reign and rule forever and ever. And we will reign with Him.
That’s the good news we’re working toward.
Reason Three: There Is a King Who Is Worthy of Worship
Ultimately, missions isn’t just about meeting human need or obeying a command—though both are vitally important. At its core, missions is about worship. Jesus is worthy to be praised and worshiped by all nations.
Matthew 28:18 declares that Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth.” He is already King of kings, Lord of lords, and God of gods. There are just billions of people who don’t know it yet. And we need to tell them.
John Piper says it perfectly: “Worship is the fuel of missions. The reason missions exist is because worship doesn’t.” In the darkest corners of the earth, where Jesus’ name has never been spoken, worship doesn’t exist. Our job is to bring the light of Christ so that people can bow before their Creator and King.
Consider the majesty of Jesus:
He was in the beginning. John 1:1-3 tells us: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus has existed from eternity past to eternity future. He is not created; He is the Creator.
His coming was prophesied. Over 300 times in the Old Testament, the prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 9:6 adds, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
He was born as a baby. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The Creator became creation. The King of the universe was born in a stable. Philippians 2:7 says He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
He will return as King. Revelation 19:11-13 gives us a glimpse of His second coming: “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems… He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.”
Philippians 2:9-11 promises: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
That day is coming. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess. Let’s not wait until that day to declare Him Lord. Let’s bow before King Jesus now.
What’s Our Response?
So what do we do with all this? How do we respond to the cause, the command, and the King?
First Corinthians 16:13-14 gives us clear direction: “Be watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
Practically, this means:
Pray expectantly. Pray like you believe there’s a God who hears and answers prayers. Cry out for the unreached. Intercede for missionaries. Ask God to shatter the darkness and raise up churches among every people group on earth.
Give expectantly. Support the work of missions generously and sacrificially. Whether it’s local outreach or global missions, give as though you believe God is at work and your resources can make an eternal difference.
Go expectantly. Whether God calls you across the street or across the ocean, go and expect God to move. Be willing to step out in faith and share the good news wherever He leads you.
Live expectantly. Live like you believe Jesus is coming back—because He is. Let that reality shape your priorities, your decisions, and your daily life.
There are only three types of Christians: radical goers, radical senders, and the radically disobedient. Which one will you be?
The world is waiting. The King is worthy. And the harvest is ready. May we be found faithful when He returns.