As we evaluate the missiological philosophies, the most important thing to consider is: what is the fruit? It would be hard to look at a single indigenous church in this nation and say “nope, wasn't worth the fruit.”

The challenge to partner with local indigenous churches and pastors is immense. It is not easy but we feel so passionately that the difficult road, the way of the cross, will bear fruit thirty, sixty, and one hundredfold, both in this age and in the age to come.

The Great Commission wasn't just given to a few believers or a few denominations. It is the mission of the entire church! So I ask then, why so few black laborers on the field? What have been the stumbling blocks in the path of black laborers being sent out to the harvest?

How is it that black people were mobilized and sent to the missions field even in the midst of slavery but now are nearly nonexistent in the modern-day missions movement? Many of us have never heard of George Liele and Betsy Stockton so it’s no surprise that African Americans are unaware of the history and the leadership role they have had in missions in America…

If you had asked me eight years ago what I thought was to be the hardest thing that faces a person in the Middle East who follows Christ, I would have listed out a whole litany of things. Persecution. Cultural Stigmas. Christian crusaders and their history. Lack of community. Lack of resources. Family pressure. Politics. ISIS. War. Martyrdom. And to be honest, these are real and legitimate difficulties for the modern-day Arabs who find themselves following the Risen King in a region where he is decidedly regarded as a prophet who is not God and did not die on a cross.

However, one thing that has surprised me since learning to love and lead in the Muslim world, is that there is one difficulty that can be the greatest stumbling block of all; following a Jewish Messiah who has plans and purposes that He will see to completion for the apple of His eye, Israel.

Is the Great Commission in the front of your mind when you think about your “calling” and your life vision?

Though all have various gifts, assignments, and desires that God has given, we are bound together in a common cause: to make the name of Jesus known and the gospel proclaimed in every nation of the earth.

I am afraid that we have become so enthralled with our individual "callings" that we've lost sight of the church’s preeminent mission. American individualism and a celebrity-driven culture have given rise to this relentless pursuit of one’s personal calling to the point that we have lost sense of God’s grand plan to give His Son the worship of all nations.

The issue is not necessarily the means of worship but the heart of worship. During quarantine, this was exposed, and people had to wrestle with the way things are. Some left their churches because their role of worship leader got removed or redefined. Some stayed and either created a presence centered culture or a production centered culture.

Without a doubt, this impact left its mark on hungry worship leaders. The result God is after is for Him to be at the center. Thus, dissatisfied worship leaders are returning again to the true heart of worship.

The church cannot continue to try to exercise the kingly authority to rule without the priestly rhythm, the leitourgeo, in place. Otherwise, we will sow much and reap little. We will work for a wage and put it in a bag with holes. We will keep prophesying revival when there is no revival. It is time we step back as we consider our ways.

The first Gentile churches provide the prototype; David provided the blueprint. If we want the kingdom to expand in our cities, our worship must expand. Remember what makes the church distinct from every other business or institution: It is not that we have better branding and marketing - it is that God is in our midst. That is what makes us distinct. We are being built together to be a dwelling place for God.