Why do churches send missionaries? | Acts 17:1-15 (Part 2) | Join The Journey Podcast

Main message: Local churches must reclaim their biblical role as senders—discovering, developing, deploying, and sustaining missionaries—with church planting and pastoral formation central to mission rather than outsourcing that responsibility or reducing mission to programmatic or humanitarian activity.

Key points:

• God is a sending God; the church is His embassy called to send ambassadors to make disciples and plant churches that mature and reproduce.
• When local churches stop sending, they become insular ("come and see"), lose disciple-making skills, and risk focusing on internal needs rather than God's mission to the nations.
• Sending organizations can play a helpful role, but churches should not outsource their responsibility; ask sending partners how they define "the church" and whether they prioritize sustainable church planting and elder formation.
• The biblical pattern for mission is church planting and appointing elders (Acts 13–14); pastoral formation and long-term church health must be central.
• Practical pathway at Watermark: Discover Missions class → discipleship intensive → nine-month team training with international practice → partnership with vetted sending agencies (Reaching & Teaching, Chrisar, Launch Global) → assessment, appointment, fundraising, and congregational support.

Scriptures mentioned: Acts 17:14-15, Acts 13, Acts 14, Revelation