Stop Sending Missionaries: Why More Is NOT Always Better

«Here I am, send me» (Isa. 6:8).

«The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest» (Matthew 9:37-38).

These words of Scripture have become a motto for many missionaries preparing to go forth into ministry. They have also ignited the hearts of many churches and individuals who understand that Christians have a commission to make disciples of all nations.

For generations, the church has sadly neglected these peoples. Fortunately, in recent decades, we have corrected this «mission drift» and have zealously begun to fulfill our task of revealing God’s wisdom to an observing world (Eph. 3:10).

However, after several years of ministry among the nations—right in the heart of the so-called «10/40 window,» surrounded by nations who have yet to hear the Gospel—I can’t help but wonder: Have we gone too far? It seems the pendulum has swung too far, and now some adjustments are needed.

The Great Commission is a grand task, and like any great work, it requires vision, commitment, and a large number of hands. Yet, sometimes I feel like stopping the Western churches and saying, «Don’t send them! Stop sending out under-prepared missionaries!»

The laborers are few, but the harvest is great. But that does not mean that more laborers are necessarily better. It seems that the impatience that characterizes our generation has also infiltrated the missionary movement under the guise of «urgency.» And this impatience, instead of being restrained by church leaders, is often encouraged by them.

And what is the result? Many people are going to other nations, although, frankly, they shouldn't be - at least not yet.

Here’s a question I think more churches should consider: Why would you send someone out to plant churches overseas if you wouldn’t hire that person as a pastor or even on the board of directors? Why is «passion» often the primary criterion for sending men and women to support church missionaries, while proven loyalty and experience are ignored? Why is the bar for those who serve on the front lines lower than for those who serve in the local church?

The challenges, stresses, and temptations of missionary service are very real, and many times people go there with great enthusiasm but lack understanding. No wonder the wise man, guided by the Holy Spirit, said:

«Even sincerity without knowledge is not good, and he who walks hastily will err» (Prov. 19:2).

This parable well describes the state of some missionary projects: desire without knowledge. And desire without knowledge in the matter of missions is not only dangerous, but can also lead to spiritual death.

A field ready for harvest is filled with workers who spoil the harvest, those who cannot or will not properly use the tools God has given them. Imagine a field where people are swinging their sickles in the wrong direction or even from the wrong end. And often—if I may extend this metaphor—they are not using the sickle at all. Their hands are empty, which is not an attractive sight.

Many churches and missionary organizations seem to be failing to teach missionaries to distinguish between the wheat and the tares. Lacking discernment, such missionaries sometimes gather the tares and report back home about their «successful sowing.» As a church, we are entrusted with a task and a path to follow, but many who go forth to proclaim the Gospel of peace are led astray by desire that is not backed up by knowledge.

Yes, the workers are few, but our impatience has become our weakness. When churches set goals to send out a certain number of people by a certain time, the desire to achieve that goal can lead to unbiblical discipleship. The result is people going into the mission field who may be hurt themselves and harm others.

Instead, we should take as an example the apostle Paul, who had a steadfast patience. From the moment of his conversion he learned of his calling. However, as we see in the book of Acts, it was more than ten years before he embarked on his first missionary journey. During this time he spent three important years in Arabia, a period in his native Tarsus, and later in the church in Antioch, from where he and Barnabas were sent out to minister. And this is Paul, who from the moment of his conversion had a deep knowledge of the Scriptures. Paul’s real ministry seems to have begun only when he was sent out by his «home» church in Antioch under the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the elders and the entire church.

If you talk to older missionaries, you will learn that Bible college was once a requirement. If you read the biographies of men like Adoniram Judson, it becomes clear that ordination to the ministry was also required. These days, once the church approves, candidates can take a few tests, attend a two-week training course, and be approved for a mission fairly quickly. This convenient and simplified system is designed to send more and more missionaries to nations in need of the Gospel.

But more is not always better.

The challenges that missionaries will face as they take the Gospel to difficult places will require a mature and tested character. The questions that missionaries will receive from those they evangelize will often require a deep and broad theological knowledge. And the powerful enemy they will encounter will require a faith that is firmly rooted.

Pragmatism thrives in foreign ministries because ministers often don't really know how to talk about their God. Heresies spread because they don't know their message. Worldliness dominates because many missionaries are spiritually immature and have little accountability.

Church, stop sending out people who don't know their God, don't know their message, and have no idea what submission to authority is. Please, for the glory of God, stop.

Desire is laudable, but it comes and goes. A calling must be obligatory and valuable. And not just any "calling," but one that:

• rooted in truth and confirmed by others—especially those who know you well and for a long time;
• accompanied by years of fruitful work;
• has as its main goals the glory of God and being rooted in the promises of the Gospel, as set forth in Scripture.

Local churches must look to the long term in their mission work, faithfully making many disciples who are able to go forth and serve steadfastly in faithful evangelistic ministry. They must work on quantity without sacrificing quality one iota.

It is no wonder that the missionary attrition rate is so high and doctrinal uncertainty is so widespread that missionaries often fall into serious sin. People are sent when they shouldn't be because churches send their ministers out too quickly.

Tips for Preparing People for Missionary Service

So, at this point, I want to leave you with some tips on preparing people for missionary service:

1. Teach them well so that they can teach others well; do not send them away until they have shown that they can do the same (2 Tim. 2:2).
2. Make sure they are able to clearly present sound doctrine and refute false teachings. Failure to respond to objections and correct falsehoods is a recipe for disaster when dealing with other religions or, worse, other misguided missionaries (Titus 1:9, Eph. 4:14).
3. Make sure they can submit to biblical authority. Are they rebels who have never faced challenges to their autonomy? If so, they should spend some time willingly submitting to accountability before they can be sent out with confidence (Heb. 13:17-18).
4. Proven godly character is required. This can only be determined through long-term close association and ongoing training, not through a counseling session or personality profile. Unrepented and unconquered sins are activated and revealed to the forefront (Heb. 12:1).
5. If you would not ordain a man as an elder in your church, do not send him to plant churches anywhere, especially abroad. If you are sending someone who is not older or not yet fully grown, I would advise sending him to a place where there is already a church, where you know that their spiritual growth and ministry will be overseen by faithful shepherds (Heb. 10:24-25).
6. The goal of every missionary you send out should be one of two things: to join an existing church or to gather believers to start a new church as quickly as possible. If there is no church, then I would advise working with a group of people, not alone. No Christian is meant to be alone. Ecclesiology and missiology should be inextricably linked. Churches create churches. Parachurch organizations should serve a valuable and specialized role in helping churches do this work, not replacing them (Acts 20:28, 16:13).
7. Finally, let there be a consensus in the sending church that these people who are being sent are called and ready. This will protect those who are being sent and give them a great boost of support that they are part of something bigger than their own ambitions, which can quickly fade or change (Acts 13:3).

I write this not to diminish the church’s mission activity, but to encourage a long-term vision with lasting faithfulness as the goal. We are running a marathon, not a sprint. Missionary service is the same thing. Holy desire involves careful preparation for ministry. This truth becomes obscured if the primary goal of our missionary work is the constant growth of new members. Instead, the primary goal of our missionary work should be the glory of God—and that is what we should prepare and be ready for.

So let us feel the urgency, but not at the expense of wisdom. After all, what is at stake is nothing other than the Glory of God.