When I was baptized, my pastor said, “Now you are a missionary for Jesus.” At the time, I did not fully understand what he meant. Like many new believers, I had read stories of missionaries traveling overseas. Though admiring their courage, I lacked a clear understanding of how I could personally contribute to the mission.
Over the years, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and experience, I have learned about the importance of being involved in pointing people to salvation in Jesus. Reflecting on my journey, I realize how much more effective my efforts could have been if I had received proper training from the beginning. This realization highlights the importance of equipping church members for mission work and fostering mission-minded congregations.
“There is no limit,” wrote Ellen G. White, “to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.”1 This statement highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in mobilizing individuals for mission. Pastors, of course, must play a pivotal role in cultivating this mindset within their congregations.
What are some strategies for developing mission-minded churches? Drawing on biblical principles and successful models like Total Member Involvement (TMI), this article shows that—by engaging members, providing training, and fostering a culture of action—pastors can lead their congregations to fulfill their God-given mission.
A biblical and practical framework
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not merely a social-religious institution; it is a movement called to prepare the world for the second coming of Christ. This mission is rooted in the Great Commission: “ ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you’ ” (Matt. 28:19, 20, NKJV).
“The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.”2 This rallying of effort requires intentionality in mobilizing every member.
For years church participation has been characterized by the Pareto Principle (20 percent of the members doing 80 percent of the work). However, the TMI initiative was launched in 2016 by the General Conference with the aim of reversing this trend. TMI’s emphasis is 100 percent member participation in mission, maintaining that when every member is engaged, churches experience remarkable growth and make a greater impact on their community.
Developing mission-minded churches
Pastors must focus on three essential steps to create mission-minded churches: inspiring members to engage, providing training and resources, and fostering a culture of action.
1. Inspire members to get engaged. The best way to inspire members to get engaged is for pastors to model enthusiasm themselves. A leader’s passion for mission can ignite a similar zeal among members. Begin by praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a heart burdened for the lost. As Ellen White records an angel’s words regarding prayer, “Press your petitions to the throne, and hold on by strong faith.”3
Members gain motivation and purpose when they understand the “why” behind their mission. The apostle Paul’s example in Philippians 1:12–14 demonstrates this principle: Despite his imprisonment, Paul’s joy and determination inspired others to proclaim the gospel boldly. Paul wrote that though he was in jail, his imprisonment was “unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12, KJV).
Why should members get involved in mission work? Here are five compelling reasons:
- Mission work brings joy to the believer. Jesus states, “ ‘These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full’ ” (John 15:11, NKJV). Ellen White comments, “There is no greater bliss on this side of heaven than in winning souls to Christ.”4
- It provides an opportunity for salvation. Sharing Jesus gives others a chance to respond to the Holy Spirit’s call (١ Tim. 2:3, 4).
- It brings joy to God’s heart. Heaven rejoices over every sinner who repents (Luke ١٥:١٠).
- It shapes us to be like Jesus. Jesus’ mission was to seek and save the lost, and He calls His followers to do the same (Matt. 4:19).
- It fulfills God’s command. The Great Commission is not optional; it is a mandate for all disciples (Matt. 28:19, 20).
2. Provide opportunities for training and resources. Nothing great ever happens in the church without enthusiasm. But enthusiasm alone is not enough. Members need training, resources, and practical tools to participate in mission work effectively. Preparation involves equipping members to
Total Member Involvement fosters a sense of purpose and belonging within the church. When members collaborate to advance the gospel, they experience personal growth and strengthen their relationships with one another.
- give a short, powerful personal testimony;
- give Bible studies;
- lead small groups;
- visit homes and connect with community members; and
- organize and deliver evangelistic meetings.
“In every church, the members should be so trained that they will devote time to the winning of souls to Christ. How can it be said of the church, ‘Ye are the light of the world,’ unless the members of the church are imparting light?”5
Continuously train, educate, and equip the members. Prepare them for the battle against the forces of evil and provide them with the tools they need. This training should be ongoing with opportunities for members to develop their skills and grow in confidence.
Practical preparation also includes creating discipleship pathways for new members. Successful models, such as those implemented under the TMI initiative in Rwanda, involve the following:
- Assigning spiritual guardians to new members
- Offering six-month discipleship classes
- Integrating new members into small groups and choirs
- Encouraging every member to give Bible studies and lead someone to Christ
This comprehensive approach equips members, strengthens their faith, and fosters retention. In Rwanda, two years after the most significant baptism in the church’s history, over 80 percent of new members remained active because they were immediately involved in mission work.
3. Foster a culture of action. Church leaders must constantly try to get the members involved in mission. The Great Commission Jesus gave to His disciples was simple, straightforward, and powerful: “Make disciples.” This is a call to every church member: get involved in His mission to save the world.
When starting my ministry as a district pastor, I began to feel that the demands of ministry were overwhelming. I was racing from one church to the next without achieving much. Additionally, understanding that the church is organized for missionary purposes, I wanted to hold evangelistic meetings in my congregations. It seemed like an impossible task. How would I navigate the demands of ministry without jeopardizing my health and sanity? After all, pastors are expected to preach, teach, visit, counsel, administer, and lead Bible studies.
This situation leads to a crucial point: help! I thank God that I asked for help. Never be afraid to ask for help when needing it. Help can determine the success or failure of a pastor. Sometimes we are too proud to ask. We have been conditioned to believe that we must have an answer to every problem. And when we do not, we feel hopeless. But it does not need to be that way. We must ask for help from the right people.
I praise God that I had an excellent mentor who, in his previous professional life, had been the CEO of one of the largest car manufacturing companies in the world at the time. I asked him, “How do you survive ministry when there is so much to do?”
He said that the key is to get people involved. He began: “It would help if you did not try to do it alone. You need to train the church members to do various jobs. The first thing you need to do is create a survey to ask members what they want you to do. Then develop a second survey that asks them what they want to do in the church. After creating those surveys, meet with the elders and plan a business meeting for Sabbath afternoon. In worship preach a sermon about the mission of the church. Then ask the members to organize a meal. After dinner conduct the pastor’s and members’ surveys. These meetings will be a clear blueprint for the church. I have always followed this plan with great success and satisfaction as I see many goals being reached.”
Preparation must lead to action. As Ellen White exhorts, “Let those who have charge of the flock of Christ awake to their duty and set many souls to work.”6 This means the pastors. We must send many to work. Action begins with pastors developing a clear plan:
- Conduct surveys to identify members’ interests and talents.
- Organize ministry teams to address specific community needs.
- Plan evangelistic campaigns and small group initiatives.
- Set measurable goals for outreach and regularly assess progress.
Encourage members to start small by inviting friends to church, participating in community service projects, or sharing their testimonies. As members see the impact of their efforts, they will be inspired to take on greater responsibilities.
The unity that comes from working together is another decisive outcome of action. Total member involvement fosters a sense of purpose and belonging within the church. When members collaborate to advance the gospel, they experience personal growth and strengthen their relationships with one another.
The transformative power of total member involvement
The success of the TMI initiative demonstrates the transformative potential of full member engagement. Since its launch, TMI has had the following outcomes:
- Increased participation in mission work worldwide.
- Boosted baptism rates, with more than 700,000 baptisms in the East-Central Africa Division alone. More than 300,000 people were baptized in Papua New Guinea.
- Fostered greater awareness of community needs, shifting the perception of Seventh-day Adventist churches from “What they do not do” to “What they do.”
- Improved retention rates through intentional discipleship.
- Unified members in purpose and vision.
These outcomes highlight the importance of mobilizing every member. The church was organized for mission, and, as Ellen White states, “The churches are withering up because they have failed to use their talents in diffusing light.”7
A calling for all
The church’s mission is clear: prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus. Achieving this goal requires the active participation of every member. Pastors are vital in inspiring, equipping, and mobilizing their congregations. By getting members engaged, trained, and mobilized, pastors can develop mission-minded churches that reflect Christ’s love and fulfill His great commission. The TMI initiative provides a practical framework for this work. It reminds us that the task of saving souls is not the responsibility of a few but a calling for all.
May we, as pastors and leaders, partner with God in this great mission. If we don’t, who will?
