George Verwer, founder of the international missions organisation OM, likes to challenge congregations with this question:
“Are you willing to go, but planning to stay, or planning to go but willing to stay?”
The first suggests a lip-service attitude to the Great Commission: I’ll go if I really must, but actually my heart and focus are here. The second suggests a willingness to follow God wherever he leads - even if that’s no further than our current neighbourhood.
In case you’re wondering - George prefers the latter!
This isn’t to belittle the local community. In fact, as
Maurice shared at the COURAGE conference, our pioneering vision is not to see ‘outsiders’ planting churches in every nation, but to see indigenous people raised up, leading churches in their towns, and planting new ones of their own.
The question is one of attitude - are you looking out for where God might be calling you, while serving well where he’s already led you? Or are you keeping your eyes down and hoping he doesn’t spot you?
