The ambition to fulfill the Great Commission is a noble and God-glorifying aspiration for any church. Recently, I heard a pastor express his intent to lead his congregation to be the first in history to fully realize the Great Commission. It’s a statement that, while bold, echoes the spirit of many mission-focused pronouncements throughout church history. Think back to the rallying cry of the Student Volunteer Movement over a century ago: “The evangelization of the world in this generation!” This powerful slogan mobilized countless evangelical Christians to spread the Gospel across the globe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the zeal for global evangelization is undeniably inspiring, I’ve always felt a sense of unease with the latter part of that historical slogan. The call to evangelize the world resonates deeply, and it’s a cause I’m personally committed to. However, the implication that this generation will succeed where all others have failed feels somewhat manipulative. It can foster a sense of pride, suggesting that one group is uniquely positioned to accomplish what the broader church has not. Could this be similar to a single church believing it can achieve what the collective body of Christ has yet to complete?
Embracing Humility in the Great Commission
We must approach the Great Commission with both passion and profound humility. It’s crucial to distinguish between well-intentioned slogans and the very words of Christ. Jesus didn’t limit the Great Commission to the apostles’ generation alone. Instead, He promised His presence “to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). This age-long, worldwide mandate should instill in us a sense of awe and humility regarding the sheer magnitude of the task. Fulfilling the Great Commission requires divine power, compelling us to rely utterly on God while simultaneously dedicating ourselves wholeheartedly to His mission. This dependence on God is precisely what fuels the boldness needed to embark on and persevere in this monumental endeavor.
Furthermore, consider the apostles’ response to the Great Commission. None of them declared, “I will accomplish this alone! I will take the Gospel to all nations single-handedly!” Instead, they became Christ’s sent messengers, collectively proclaiming the Gospel. They worked in partnership, each venturing to different regions (Gal. 2:9), supporting and encouraging one another in their shared mission. This model of collaborative ministry stands in stark contrast to a go-it-alone approach.
How collaborative are we as pastors and church leaders today? Do we actively seek partnerships with other local churches to advance the Great Commission? Or do we operate as if our individual church can single-handedly evangelize the world? The example of churches like Capitol Hill Baptist, known for their commitment to partnerships, challenges us to consider a more collaborative approach.
Looking Beyond Our Church Walls: A Broader Kingdom Vision
Being a pastor is a privilege, and I deeply value my fellow pastors. I thank God for them and strive to serve them in any way possible. Perhaps it’s this very affection that makes it disheartening when I observe pastors whose vision seems limited to the confines of their own church buildings. While contentment and focus on one’s congregation are sometimes virtues, I fear that, at times, this can indicate a degree of insularity and a lack of broader vision.
Sadly, some pastors’ priorities appear misaligned in other ways. For instance, some exhibit a fervent loyalty to their denomination, akin to sports fans cheering for their favorite team. I recall a conversation with a pastor who enthusiastically shared statistics about his denomination’s membership percentage in his state, growth trends, and various denominational metrics. However, when I inquired about the percentage of evangelical Christians in his state – those who share the same core Gospel beliefs, regardless of denomination – he was completely unaware. He hadn’t even considered the question before.
Fellow pastors, how can we become more concerned with denominational allegiance than with the expansion of Christ’s Kingdom? Are we primarily focused on increasing our own congregation’s numbers, or on the growth of God’s Church as a whole, irrespective of denominational lines?
My deep desire is to see God raise up more pastors who prioritize conversions over congregational growth. I yearn for pastors who cultivate a culture of care and collaboration with other churches in their communities and beyond. I long for pastors who pray earnestly for revival, and who rejoice even when God answers those prayers in another local church, understanding that we are all partners in the Great Commission, much like the churches that form the great commission partners network with Capitol Hill Baptist.
Cultivating a “Catholic” Pastoral Heart: Practical Steps
How can we become these “catholic pastors”—pastors with a heart for their own congregation, but also for the unreached in their city and the world, embracing all genuine Gospel ministry? And how can we inspire our congregations to adopt this broader vision and enthusiasm for Gospel work in our wider areas and globally?
Here are some practical steps we can take to foster a more collaborative and Kingdom-minded approach:
- Pray Regularly for Other Pastors and Churches: Make it a personal discipline to pray specifically for other pastors and congregations in your area.
- Publicly Bless Other Churches: Set an example for your church by regularly praying for God’s blessing on other Bible-believing and Bible-preaching churches in your community during your services.
- Cross-Denominational Pulpit Exchanges: Invite ministers from other evangelical denominations to preach in your pulpit occasionally, and accept invitations to preach in theirs when opportunities arise.
- Partner in Prayer Meetings: Invite a fellow pastor to your church’s prayer meeting. Interview him about the ministry in his church and lead your congregation in praying for him and his church.
- Speak Well of Other Churches: Commit to speaking positively about other churches. If criticism is necessary, exercise extreme caution and grace.
- Encourage Kingdom-Minded Church Membership: Be willing to encourage members who live far from your church to consider joining healthy, like-minded congregations closer to their homes.
Alt Text: A diverse congregation is united in prayer, embodying the spirit of partnership in the Great Commission.
The possibilities for collaboration are vast.
Strategizing to Strengthen Fellow Pastors
In whatever ways you can, actively strategize to support other pastors. Gather them for fellowship, pray with them, provide them with helpful resources like books and articles. Let them know that you are there to support them, to the best of your ability.
Seek out pastors who are themselves committed to blessing other pastors. This embodies a pastoral application of 2 Timothy 2:2, training faithful leaders who will, in turn, train others. As God raises up such a network of godly ministers of His Word in our communities, may we see the lost saved, churches strengthened, and God’s name glorified throughout the earth. This is how the Great Commission has been, is being, and will continue to be fulfilled in every generation, through partnerships and a shared commitment to Christ’s global mandate, mirroring the collaborative spirit of great commission partners connected to churches like Capitol Hill Baptist.
Alt Text: A pastor passionately leads his congregation in prayer, exemplifying pastoral leadership and dedication to the Great Commission.
