by Jeff Iorg
As a missional Christian, you are deployed—not dispersed. While you still recognize your church and Christian friends as home base, you are comfortable going out from them to engage unbelievers.
When a military unit is sent into combat, they don’t wander around looking for interesting things to see or do. They are on a mission, usually narrowly defined with results specifically measured. They are deployed, not dispersed; sent on a mission, not scattered to the winds. They ship out, accomplish a specific purpose, and return home (only to repeat the process until the ultimate objective is reached).
A deployed Christian has a similar mind-set. You leave the safety and comfort of Christian community, communicate the gospel in your circle of influence or interest, and regather with believers from time to time to recharge for future service. You then repeat this process for as long as God gives you continued opportunity to serve Him.
When you are deployed, the people in your daily life become your mission field. You already live among the people you are responsible to reach with the gospel. This is a staggering revelation for many Christians who think of their daily life (work, school, etc.) and their ministry life (church attendance, outreach projects, etc.) as two separate spheres—in parallel orbits never intended to intersect.
Sharing the gospel in a comfortable way, in our natural surroundings, and in places and among people we enjoy is much easier than a forced witness in a contrived environment. What do you enjoy doing? Playing softball, volunteering at a library, watching NASCAR racing, attending a painting class? Who do enjoy being with? Cowboys, cheerleaders, performance artists, kayakers? Christians are found in almost every nook and cranny of our culture. We don’t need to go out there; we are already there. Becoming a missional Christian isn’t about abandoning things you enjoy so you can do more ministries. It’s about taking the gospel with you—remembering you are deployed—as you live your faith among your family and friends.
For our family, youth sports provided a natural opportunity for reaching our friends. We spent hours at games and practices—plus traveling and after-parties—with people who shared our interest (and the activities of our children). Sharing the gospel in that context was a natural outflow of our relationships—both with God and with our friends. Sometimes, the results were slow. But even today, years later, we are pleased when someone we reached out to during that time in our family’s life makes a commitment to Jesus.
Sharing the gospel is not supposed to be a program, it’s a lifestyle. It’s not something separated from normal, daily life. It’s part of being a Christian—where you are, wherever you are.
Jeff Iorg enjoys umpiring baseball, reading, and searching for the world’s best barbeque restaurant. He and his wife, Ann, have three adult children. His personal ministry includes outreach to the professional baseball community in the Bay Area. He also happens to be the president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
