We’ve grown familiar with the concept of an executive order, a directive issued by the president to manage the government. Over the years (and depending on which political camp the president is in), people will either applaud the bold actions of the president, or they see his executive orders as a way to run the government without working with Congress.
What would you think if the president issued an executive order for a whole new army?
When John F. Kennedy was running for president, he campaigned on the idea of America sending out volunteers to assist in underdeveloped countries. So less than six weeks after he took office, on March 1, 1961, he issued the executive order to form this army of volunteers. He called it the Peace Corps. It was only a trial program, but he asked Congress to approve it and fund it. In his speech to Congress, Kennedy said:
“Throughout the world the people of the newly developing nations are struggling for economic and social progress which reflects their deepest desires. Our own freedom, and the future of freedom around the world, depend, in a very real sense, on their ability to build growing and independent nations where men can live in dignity, liberated from the bonds of hunger, ignorance and poverty.” (source)
So here we are, 63 years later, and the Peace Corps is still going. Today, 1400+ people are working in 53 other countries as a part of the Peace Corps.
Kennedy was not the first to challenge people to go and serve. He was not the first to send people on mission.
Jesus was the first—and His challenge is a far greater one. Jesus calls us to do more than liberate people “from the bonds of hunger, ignorance and poverty.” He calls us to liberate people from death.
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, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).
Ed Stetzer has said, “The passion of the church and every follower of Christ should be that all peoples have an opportunity to hear, understand, and respond to the gospel.”
Jesus Himself is our peace (Eph. 2:14), and (if I can hijack the phrase from Kennedy) we are the corps taking that message of peace to anyone and everyone we encounter.
Hundreds of Christian ministries and agencies exist to support and help people engage in the mission of taking Christ to the world. Two regularly have my attention:
In the comment section, I’d love to hear your connection and involvement with missions.
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post supports the study “The Mission of Jesus Shared” in Bible Studies for Life and YOU.
Join Lynn Pryor and Chris Johnson as they discuss this topic.
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Lynn Pryor 
Lynn,
To answer your question my husband and I help teach Royal Ambassadors at our church on a weekly basis. The study of missionaries and their work here and abroad has given me an appreciation for their sacrifice, dedication and commitment to Jesus. We pray for and give to the Lottie Moon Christmas and Annie Armstrong Easter offerings to support mission Aries as well.
Thanks for your podcasts and articles that help us teach others. God Bless!
RM
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Lynn,
Like many others, my husband and I support missions by giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and our local Food Bank. I served as the Girls in Action (GA’s) Director for our local Baptist Association for several years back in the 80’s and early 90’s. Our WMU, Acteens and GA’s were among the top organizations involved in teaching and doing missions at that time. Today, neither of these are part of our church’s curriculum. They no longer exist! My heart breaks every time I think about how involved we were with missions in our church, our community and state and today missions and missionary work are only mentioned when the two above annual offerings are held. Society as a whole has become okay with giving their money for others to tell the good news of Jesus Christ, but they do not have the desire or time to Go and Tell it themselves.
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as the former Executive Director of our local Habitat for Humanity, I now serve on the Board of Directors, I volunteer with the local Celebrate Recovery, sponsored by our local church, and I lead the sweetest group of ladies (ages 80-90+), in Sunday School. My husband and I support mission groups from our church serving with Living Water, as well as Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon and others.
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