Missions and The Local Church

From the very beginning, God's plan for reaching the world has involved the local church. Acts 13 marks a pivotal moment in church history as the church at Antioch becomes the launching point for the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. This passage demonstrates that missions is not a side ministry of the church—it is at the very heart of the church's purpose. As believers worshiped, prayed, and sought God's direction, the Holy Spirit called and sent laborers into the harvest. The same mission continues today: local churches are called to send, support, and participate in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.