This week, the youth of Fellowship Bible Church are working with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in Minneapolis, MN. in hopes of strengthening new church plants and reaching citizens of East Minneapolis for Christ. The reason we emphasize missions as a church is because worship is the ultimate goal of the church and is absent in many areas of the the U.S. and the world. According to John Piper, “Missions exists because worship does not.”

A church cannot say that worship is a priority without making missions a priority. Many, nonetheless, argue that worship and missions are unrelated; defining worship as an act that takes place between an individual and God. Worship, however, is much more than that. It involves making God known where He is not so that others would rejoice and be glad in Him.

A desire to do missions should flow from a heart of worship, which is demonstrated by the psalmist who said, “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coast lands be glad” (Ps. 97:1). A church that does not get excited about missions should question whether or not authentic worship is taking place. Piper affirms, “Where passion for God is weak, zeal for missions will be weak. Churches that are not centered on the exaltation of the majesty and beauty of God will scarcely kindle a fervent desire to ‘declare his glory among the nations’” (Ps. 96:3).

Believers must realize that genuine mission ministry will not take place until authentic worship does. My prayer, for evangelical churches everywhere is that they would desire to see the nations come to enjoy God through Christ for His glory.

Piper, John. Let the Nations be Glad. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 17-18.