What if the greatest barrier to your church’s progress isn’t the budget, building, or programs, but the congregation’s view of the Great Commission?

Some churches are missions minded, meaning missions plays an important role in congregational life.

Others are missions obsessed. The Great Commission is at the center of everything they do.

Making disciples of all nations was never supposed to be the purview of just a select few. It’s the heartbeat of the Church — and the responsibility of every believer.

Jesus’ final instructions to His followers are clear: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Early in my ministry, I thought God was calling me into full-time missions work. At one point, I asked Assemblies of God missionary David Grant about joining him in India.

“Of course you could come to India,” Grant said. “But I want you to pray about it. Some people can do more for missions as supporting and sending pastors than missionaries, and I think you might be one of those people.”

Looking back, that was a prophetic moment in my life. Instead of pursuing vocational missionary work, I ultimately became a missions-obsessed pastor.

A passion for reaching the world shaped how my wife and I planted Cornerstone church (AG) 28 years ago. From the beginning, we committed to being a missions-obsessed church — where sending, giving, praying, and going are the norm.

Through the years, I’ve learned that building a missions culture isn’t about hype, but intentionality. It’s something any church can accomplish.

Following are seven best practices for increasing people’s zeal for missions.

1. Financial Support

Investing in missions is an essential first step.

Choose a few Assemblies of God missionaries to support, and introduce them to your church.

Don’t wait until the treasury is flush with cash. Build missions into your regular budget — not as an afterthought, but a priority.

One approach is to designate a percentage of your general fund to missions.

Another is to create a faith-promise structure, asking congregants to pledge a specific weekly or monthly missions contribution.

At our church, we ask people to give at least $5 weekly per household member toward missions.

Many contribute far beyond that amount, but starting small helps everyone feel they can be a part.

Give your congregants an opportunity to stretch their faith through generosity. The results might just surpass what you thought possible.

2. Missions Emphases

Plan events that keep everyone’s focus on missions.

Devote a special service to world missions at least annually.

Host a meal where congregants can sample international foods and learn more about the missionaries your church supports.

Set aside a portion of each weekend gathering to pray for a missionary or region of the world.

Include children and teens in missions-related events and initiatives. When young people grow up hearing about what God is doing around the world, missions will become part of their spiritual heritage.

More than just activities on the church calendar, these are opportunities for everyone to catch God’s vision and participate in His work.

Emphasizing missions will change your church’s culture as people realize they have a role to play in reaching the nations.

3. Missionary Visibility

You don’t have to wait for a missionary to visit your church to remind people of the importance of missions.

Invite missionaries to speak during your services and events. Keep missions visible between visits by sharing photos, testimonies, video updates, and prayer requests. (Ask what you can share publicly, especially when missionaries are serving in sensitive locations.)

As your church sees and hears from global workers, missions will become personal rather than abstract.

4. Special Offerings

While monthly missionary support is essential for sustaining global workers, many strategic projects around the world depend on additional giving. That’s where special missions offerings come in.

Prayer unites
your church
with God’s
purposes and
encourages
workers on
the field.

These offerings don’t replace monthly commitments. Rather, they expand your church’s reach through targeted, project-based giving.

Whether rescuing victims of human trafficking, distributing Scripture around the world, training leaders, planting churches among unreached people groups, or meeting urgent needs during times of crisis, these opportunities allow your church to make timely, tangible impacts.

Such offerings increase people’s sense of connectedness to missions work.

Some pastors worry that special offerings might reduce donations elsewhere. I’ve found the opposite to be true. Targeted offerings tend to onboard new donors and cultivate a spirit of generosity.

The churches that are most invested in missions provide monthly missionary support and collect regular special offerings for projects.

Consider highlighting a global project at least quarterly. Regularity reinforces priority.

5. Prayer

Intercessory prayer for missionaries and unreached people groups is vital and biblical.

The apostle Paul repeatedly asked the Church to pray for his missionary efforts. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul wrote, “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.”

Set aside time during gatherings to pray for missionaries your church supports. Post prayer needs on your church’s app or bulletin. Add missionaries to your intercessory team’s prayer list. Include missions in small group prayers.

Prayer unites your church with God’s purposes and encourages workers on the field. Make praying for missions a rhythm, not a rarity.

6. Short-Term Trips

There is nothing like experiencing missions firsthand.

When congregants walk the streets of Cairo or pray over a village in the Andes, something shifts. They return with fresh passion, urgency and commitment to missions.

Send your staff members, young adults, and high-capacity leaders on missions trips. Help them see, feel and understand the global harvest firsthand.

One trip can spark a lifetime of praying and giving, or even help someone discover a full-time calling.

7. Workers

Pastor Mike Stachura said, “The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity.”

The world measures success in terms of raw numbers, crowd sizes, and bottom lines. Kingdom metrics are different. In God’s economy, the ultimate gift is not a matter of money, but sacrifice.

A church will become missions obsessed when people send their sons and daughters to fulfill the Great Commission. Congregants will give and pray when someone they love is depending on their support.

Becoming a missions-obsessed church doesn’t require a massive budget or a global staff. It takes intentional steps, sustained vision, and a willingness to let God break your heart for the unreached.

Whether your church currently supports 100 missionaries, 10, or none at all, start taking steps toward greater involvement.

Build a missions culture. Make missionary work visible. Pass on the vision to the next generation. Pray it into your DNA. Become obsessed with the Great Commission.

Jesus still calls. The world still waits. Your church has a crucial role to play in making disciples of all nations.

This article appears in the Summer 2025 issue of Influence magazine.