by Reuben, Asia
1 September 2006

What does mission look like in the 21st century? We must craft our strategies in light of the realities of today’s world. Billions of people alive today, more than three quarters of them in Asia, still don’t know Jesus. How can we reach them? We encounter restricted access to the countries in Asia where unreached people live. For one thing, most governments are unwilling to grant missionary visas to foreigners. Secondly, the people often see the Gospel of Christ as a western religion—one to be actively resisted. These situations call for creative approaches to mission.

Removing Barriers

I live in Asia and have worked in a computer company for nearly three years. I have been able to see some of the benefits of doing cross cultural mission by working in a professional job. The most obvious advantage is gaining a visa that allows me to live in a country where I could not otherwise live. But this is not the main reason that I choose to be employed in this way. Doing business as mission gives me acceptance in the community where I choose to live. Rather than causing suspicion, when I tell people that I am here to work they understand and accept me as a normal part of their community. They are, in fact, grateful because our computer company is providing jobs for people in their city. When I talk to people in my community about Jesus, I don’t encounter the same barriers as would be there if I had come in saying I was a missionary. My job is my ministry and my ministry is my job.

Mission in the Marketplace

The company where I work has fifteen people working or connected with it, and only two of them know Jesus. So every day as I go to work, I have a chance to display my faith by the way I live and by sharing parts of the Gospel with people at appropriate times. It has been rewarding to see my co-workers ask questions and think about what it means to follow Jesus.

Vision for Local Believers

Business as mission is also a great way to model to local believers the benefits of lay ministry. When people here become believers, they are sent off to Bible college; often when they return they cannot relate effectively to the communities they left. We are trying to demonstrate to local believers and new disciples that they can remain in their jobs, stay where they are living, and be a witness to their friends and family. If we want to see the Gospel spread rapidly over Asia, we need self-supporting lay leaders for the Christian fellowship groups which we pray will spring up everywhere.

Scope for Creativity

Some people doing business as mission are financially supported by friends and churches in their home countries. Others receive all their income from the company for which they work, with no financial support from home. There is a lot of scope for creativity. Almost any professional skill you have can be used in mission to unreached people; all you need is willingness to live cross culturally and a heart to share the Gospel with others.