U.S. One of World's Fastest-growing Mission Fields
'Unfinished' Magazine Identifies America's 'Backyard' as Ripe for Cross-cultural Missions
NORCROSS, Ga., Oct. 8, 2012 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Cross-cultural ministry no longer requires a passport, according to the latest issue of "Unfinished," the award-winning quarterly magazine of The Mission Society. With the United States identified as one of the fastest-growing mission fields in the world, outreach opportunities abound for American Christians and churches willing to embrace new thinking.
"Acts 1:8 calls us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth while not neglecting 'Jerusalem,' our mission field at home," said Dick McClain, president and CEO of The Mission Society. "Whether you live in Louisville, Kentucky, or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it is incumbent on Christian disciples to identify and then reach out to those who have had the least exposure to the gospel. The least-reached people may very well be your neighbor."
The Mission Society, a full-spectrum missions sending organization, has a special emphasis on reaching the world's least reached.
The fall 2012 issue of "Unfinished" magazine, "The Least Reached in Your Backyard," examines unprecedented opportunities for cross-cultural ministries for American churches and Christians. To reach the people groups, Americans are urged to "Think: Cities," "Think: Universities" and "Think: The Next Generation." Across the boundaries of all these American "backyards" are some of the world's least-reached.
Cities have become fast-growing, cross-cultural mixtures of young adults, ethnic minorities, people of great influence and the poor.
The United States is home to people from many least-reached nations temporarily. Nowhere is that more clear than on American university campuses.
With hearts and minds shaped by a cacophony of influences, the nation's next generation might also be among the least reached.
The issue of "Unfinished" looks at missionaries ministering to the least reached in U.S. downtown environments, opportunities available on university campuses, and an Atlanta-area church ministering to 1,800 neighborhood youth.
"Only when disciples leave the safety of their homes for the least-reached in America's backyard will the Great Commission be fulfilled at home," said Stan Self, senior director of church ministry for The Mission Society.
The Mission Society comes alongside local churches to help them discover their unique missional calling. To receive a free consultation on developing a customized outreach strategy and missional mindset, churches should call 678-542-9048.
The Mission Society's award-winning quarterly magazine "Unfinished" informs and inspires readers about worldwide mission trends and issues. To receive a free subscription, visit
www.tinyurl.com/UF5312. Copies of the fall 2012 issue may be ordered in bulk.
Founded in 1984 in the Wesleyan tradition, The Mission Society exists to mobilize and deploy the body of Christ globally to join Jesus in His mission, especially among the least-reached peoples. The Mission Society recruits, trains and sends Christian missionaries to minister around the world. Its church ministry department provides seminars, workshops and mentoring for congregations in the United States and abroad, helping equip churches for outreach in their communities and worldwide. At present, The Mission Society has 225 missionaries in 39 countries.
