By Rev. John Kao

When some brothers and sisters learned the word “Going Glocal”, they immediately suggested that we might have made a typing mistake. Actually, “Glocal” is the combination of two words: “global” and “local”. It was newly coined by people in the mission field to denote that global outreach and local participation must be kept in proper balance in the church’s fulfilling of the Great Commission.

1. Missions are Spiritual Warfare

We have to be absolutely clear about what we are up against in missions work. When Jesus said, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt. 28:18) He was definitely not thinking of worldly authority. Not governments, not unjust social systems, not even stubborn hearts, but Satan himself is our main foe. Paul could not have it expressed more clearly when he said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12)

2. Missions are local

Many people tend to think that missions are about ventures in some far away and often exotic land. However, when Jesus told his disciples that they should be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends to the earth”, it is clear that missions work has a local dimension. In other words, we should ask ourselves: What are our “Jerusalem” and “Judea”? The GTA, Ontario, or Canada? And to whom should we bear witness? Should we target the Chinese people only, or people of all races and cultures? What are our strategies and action plans?

3. Missions are global

Globalization has become a buss word in financial and government circles. For missions, being global has long been integral to the church’s fulfilling of the Great Commission; we are commanded to preach the gospel to the end of the earth. Specifically, we are for this task, we need long-term missionaries who are willing to go through vigorous training and spend the most part of their life in foreign lands. They are like “regular troops” stationed overseas, whose mission is to expand the “territories” of the Kingdom of God. They may be doing direct evangelism, church planting, or discipleship training, or all of the above. Because of the nature of the tasks, most missionary organizations have very thorough recruitment and screening processes for prospective candidates. We sincerely pray that more brothers and sisters from our ACEM churches may consider becoming career long-term missionaries.

4.  Missions Supply Line

In the battlefield, a secure supply line is essential to the survival of the front-line troops and their success in battle. In missions, if we cannot be front-line missionaries, we should be support workers. Our supply line must include the following. First, we must pray for our missionaries, for their physical and spiritual well-being, and eloquence in speech and courage to preach the gospel. Second, we much support them financially, so that our missionaries would have sufficient resources to expand their ministries. Third, we have to encourage them through correspondence or occasional visitation. We should also understand the visions of their missions and help to promote their ministries. In the meantime, we have to actively participate in local missions and pray for opportunities to be sent as font-line soldiers for Christ.

5.  The Victory is secured

Missions are spiritual warfare, sometimes very fierce and dangerous. However, we can be assured that the ultimate victory belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ who was the One risen from the dead. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Ma 28:16-20) This strong and powerful message was echoed by Paul when he said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Ro 8:35, 37)

Let us all respond to God’s call to join his rank! Let us rally to be victorious soldiers of Christ.