The modern missionary movement began with the founding of the Baptist Mission Society in 1792. Envisioning the mission field as an unexplored mine, Andrew Fuller inquired as to who would go down into the mine. William Carey responded to the members of the Society, “I will go down if you will hold the rope.” The members of the Society vowed that, while they had breath in their lungs, they would hold the rope for Carey.
Our missionaries serve faithfully around the world in dark places, sharing the light of Christ with the people they serve. Like Carey, they are in need of brothers and sisters at home who will hold the rope for them. We can hold the rope in the following ways:
1. Pray
Pray that God will send out workers into the fields for harvest (Luke 10:2). Pray that barriers to the Gospel will break down. Pray that God will grant our missionaries opportunities to share the Gospel. Pray for the indigenous pastors and church planters they serve. Pray that God will protect our missionaries and their family members.
2. Go
Develop church partnerships with our missionaries as a means of holding the rope. Go on short-term mission trips to support our missionaries overseas. Churches that have members who are serving overseas should take the lead in sending their members on these short-term mission trips in support of their deployed members. Such support encourages the missionaries, indigenous Christians, and the indigenous churches. Also, go on the field and serve alongside our missionaries and the indigenous people on a long-term basis. These short-term and long-term mission efforts are ways we can hold the rope for our missionaries.
3. Send
Send people on the field to support our missionaries overseas. Provide emotional and spiritual support through emails, letters and care packages. Send them resources that will help their everyday lives. Send other missionaries to the field to work alongside those missionaries already deployed in their efforts to advance the Gospel and the kingdom of Christ. Establish partnerships with unengaged people groups and send church members to them to make disciples and plant churches.
4. Give
Give financially to support our missionaries overseas. This month offers a great opportunity to give — the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This offering gives 100 percent of the funds received to support missionaries on the field. It also helps to send more missionaries to people who are without the Gospel. Giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is a great way to “hold the rope.” In addition, giving to the Cooperative Program also is a means to support our missionaries and their efforts.
The members of the Baptist Missionary Society vowed to hold the rope for William Carey as long as they lived. Their support of Carey saw God accomplish amazing things for the advancement of the Gospel and the kingdom of Christ in India. How will God use you in holding the rope? How will He use your church? I pray that this Christmas we will recommit ourselves to the task of holding the rope for our missionaries by praying, going, sending and giving.
— Tim McKnight is an assistant professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University and directs the university’s Great Commission Center. You can follow him on Twitter at @drtimmcknight or on Facebook at Dr.TimMcKnight.