
No matter how big or small, every church should be a sending church. Make this year your year to send someone to God’s mission field.
By D. Scott Hildreth
Jesus’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) provides every believer with clear and direct marching orders. We’re to seek to make disciples of all nations. This doesn’t necessarily mean every Christian should sell all they have and go overseas—though more should go than do. However, this commission does mean every follower of Jesus must seek to apply this mission to their lives and make proper adjustments along the way for fuller obedience. It’s our calling to live “sent” lives.
What’s true of individual Christians is also true of every local church. No matter how big or small, every church should be a sending church. When Jesus gave the commission, He gave it to 11 disciples. These men were not simply individual believers with specific callings. They also served as the headwaters of the church. Their lives and writings give us the foundation of our faith and practice. The Great Commission is not only for individual believers; it should be a driving vision for each local congregation.
“The Great Commission is not only for individual believers; it should be a driving vision for each local congregation.” — @dshildreth Share on XThe small church problem
Over the years, I’ve talked with pastors and other church leaders about their sending strategies. How many missionaries have come out of your church? What plans do you have for raising and sending more (or any) missionaries? Inevitably, the issue of church size enters the discussion. They say things like, “We’d like to do more, but we’re just a small church.” But ‘small’ is a relative term. All of our churches are small when we compare them to other, ‘bigger’ churches. Sometimes, comments about size serve as a cover for different concerns.
- I’m too busy doing other ministries to focus on missions.
- Our leadership team is limited, and I don’t want to lose my best to the mission field.
- Our finances are marginal; I can’t afford to send a giving family.
- We’ve never done anything like this before, and I don’t know where to begin.
I don’t want to dismiss these concerns, but I’ll leave these matters to you and the Lord. Our goal here is to show why it’s necessary and possible for any church to be a sending church, regardless of size. Then, our challenge is for you to make this year your year of sending.
1. Be convinced sending is God’s will
My friend, Danny Akin often says, “Christians don’t usually do bad things. We do good things and neglect what is best.” There are dozens of voices and opportunities clambering for attention. The needs inside our congregations and communities exceed our abilities to meet them. How can we possibly add another thing to the plate?
In the same way the Great Commission provides guidelines and marching orders for individual believers, the same can be said for our churches. Sending should not be reduced to a ministry or something else on our already full plates. As you start this new year, spend time in the Bible and ask the Lord to convince you His mission must be your church’s mission.
2. Call all members to obedience
As you preach, write, and counsel, challenge your members to consider “being sent” as an aspect of obedience. According to Ephesians 4:12, our role in the church is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (CSB).
“As you preach, write, and counsel, challenge your members to consider ‘being sent’ as an aspect of obedience.” — @dshildreth Share on XThose who respond to God’s call are always our best leaders. Frankly, it has to be this way. These men and women are spiritually mature and sensitive to the Lord’s leadership. We must be committed to sending our best because our best are the most prepared.
Consider the story in Acts 13. God told the church in Antioch to send Saul and Barnabas. These men seemed to have been the primary leaders in the church. This story provides a pattern for sending—a small church sending its leaders in obedience to God’s call.
3. We can send because our denomination provides the resources and systems for sending
One of the most important realities about being Southern Baptist is that any pastor in any church, anywhere in our country, can stand in his pulpit and challenge everyone to obey God’s call. Our church sending is not limited by size, influence, background, or geography. Our Cooperative Program is a tool for discipleship and obedience. Anyone can say yes because together we’ve decided God’s mission is vital.
Make this year your year to send someone, or more than one, to the frontline of God’s mission field.
For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.

D. Scott Hildreth
Scott serves as Associate Professor of Missiology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Together on God’s Mission and the co-author of Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out. Both books are published by B&H Academic.