Jesus entrusted His disciples (and that includes us) with the mission to “make disciples of all the nations (Mt. 28:19)” and to be His “witnesses (Acts 1:8)” at home and to the very ends of the earth. While this end goal may be clear, the specifics of how this is to be accomplished are less so. What roles should individual disciples play? Are we all to leave home and family and go to some far off land? This raises the question about those who choose not to go or cannot go due to health or family obligations. Are such people less devoted than those who go? In my journey to the mission field, these questions have plagued my prayers and decision-making. Well, brothers and sisters, I have some good news. Just as God did not give us all the same spiritual gifts, He did not call all of us to the same role in carrying out the Great Commission. I would propose that there are at least five different roles, and possibly more, for participating in God’s plan to reach the world with the Gospel.
Goers
Traditionally, these people have been called “missionaries.” While it is true that Christ’s command is applies equally to every Christian, it also true that there are those that God has called and equipped to take the Gospel cross-culturally – literally to the ends of the earth. These are the people on the front lines. Paul, Barnabas and Silas (Acts 15:36-41) are biblical examples of Goers. Goers are essential to the work, doing the hands-on ministry on the mission field. However, Goers cannot do it alone. Just as the the front line soldier must have support providing food, munitions, and back-up, so the Goer must have a support network providing prayer, encouragement, comfort, and funds. As Ralph Winter said:
Most people think of missions as bunch of missionaries out there in a tropical forest working with their bare hands. Well, for that matter, some people think wars consist of boys out there on the front lines popping away with guns. But wars are usually a “war effort” encompassing many more people than those right at the front. So, missions, is a “mission effort” involving…far more people in the support structure than those right at the front.
So what are these support roles. There four that I pose for discussion.
Senders
Senders are those that are called to man the home front. They are the ones that provide the support structure for the Goers. Steve Hawthorne notes that, “For every fruitful missionary on the field we invariably find a dozen or more people undergirding their efforts.” The biblical basis for this role can be found in Rm. 10:15 and 3 Jn 1:7-8. Senders tend to work one of two levels. First, there are the Senders who provide moral support, logistical support, financial support, prayer support, communications support (letters, web sites, etc.), and re-entry support (helping missionaries re-integrate into their home culture). All of these are essential functions that Goer needs to be able to count on from the home front. For those called to this role, Neil Pirolo has written an excellent book entitled, Serving As Senders: How to Care for Your Missionaries While They Are Preparing to Go, While They Are on the Field, When They Return Home 
Intercessors
While is true that prayer support is listed as one of the functions of a Sender, I believe that there is very special role in the prayer arena known as the Intercessor. All of Christians are called to prayer. It is essential in the life of the Christian in order to develop a close relationship with their Lord. But there are those “prayer warriors” among us that seem to have a special calling to prayer. Many times, these are people that have the spiritual gift of faith (1 Co 12:9). Intercessors have the ability to envision what God wants, believe in its reality despite a lack of evidence, and pray it into existence. This does not mean that they turn God into a vending machine. Instead, Intercessors are especially in tune with the heart of God and ready to take God at His word. Intercessors play a essential role in the Great Commission since any substantial victory in the physical realm will be a spiritual victory first.
Mobilizers
The Mobilizer is a person with the ability to strategically motivate others. A popular story about a young boy who comes upon the scene of fire may be the best illustration of this role. The boy arrives on the scene of building fire only to find a find hose laying the ground ready to use and several firemen in their truck asleep. The boy had a choice to make. He could pick up the hose and spray the fire by himself, with little hope of success, or he could spray the firemen and get them involved. The Mobilizer is the advocate, the energizer, the drum beater. Some may consider the role of Mobilizer to be redundant with that of Sender, but, I have singled out the role of Mobilizer for two reasons. First, this a relatively new defined role in missions. Second, the role of Mobilizer is desperately needed today. All missionaries work to fund their ministry and keep people informed about what is going on the field, but is the Mobilizer who can keep things moving in ways that the missionary the field cannot. They keep the Senders and Intercessors awake and focused. Furthermore, these at the ones who help identify and plug people into their roles as Goers, Senders, and Intercessors.
Welcomer
The role of Welcomer is also rather new in mission discussions. I almost hestitate to use it since it only has limited application. The role of Welcomer as defined in the literature, is specific to the Church in the West. In the last 50 years, globalization has caused an unprecedented intermingling of cultures. Nations from all over the world are coming to the United States and Europe seeking education and a better life. As such, the opportunities for cross-cultural ministry abound just by walking out the door. Welcomers are people who are especially good at reaching out people of different cultures while remaining at home. In my opinion, this should be part and parcel for every believer in their own sphere of influence. So, I am not sure if this should be a it own category or not. I will let you decide.
What is your role? Are you a Goer? Are you Sender? Are you an Intercessor? Are you Mobilizer? Are you a Welcomer? Each of us, as disciples of Christ, have a role play. What is Yours?
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