The three Scriptures cited above were not chosen at random but for a specific purpose. They communicate what we believe to be the three essentials for the advancement of the Great Commission: the sufficiency of Scripture (II Timothy 3:16-4:2), the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6), and faith in the promises of God (Mark 11:23). These are the weapons of our warfare, made powerful by God for tearing down every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the gospel (II Corinthians 10:4). The carnal strategies and armaments of men are altogether impotent and only worthy of ridicule.

For more than three decades, we have searched the Scriptures to better understand our role in the Great Commission. In that time, we have formed several core convictions that guide our labors at home and abroad. These convictions define us!

• Missions is an impossibility apart from the power of God. All men are born radically depraved, at enmity with God, and in opposition to His truth. Therefore, the conversion of a man and the advancement of missions are an absolute impossibility apart from the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Modern church growth strategies and mission methodologies overlook this reality.

• The Scriptures are sufficient. The Scriptures are the source and standard for our doctrine, ethics, and ministry. In this, we mean that the Scriptures are not only inspired, infallible and inerrant, but sufficient. They are all that is needed so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17). In our desire to fulfill the Great Commission, we will employ those means (i.e., strategies and methodologies) that are clearly set forth in the Scriptures. The more we stray from the biblical standard and rely upon our own ingenuity or cleverness, the less we will see the power of God and the advancement of His kingdom! It is a contradiction to employ unbiblical means to propagate biblical truth. It is equally dangerous to employ means that are not warranted by the Scriptures in order to fulfill the very tasks that the Scriptures assign to us.

• Prayer is an absolute necessity. The impossible work of missions can be accomplished only through the power and wisdom of God. Therefore, prayer must be at the forefront of all our missionary endeavors. We pray for God’s name to be hallowed, His kingdom to come, and His will to be done (Matthew 6:9-10). We pray for laborers (Matthew 9:37-38), open doors (Colossians 4:3), and boldness in the proclamation of the gospel (Colossians 4:4; Acts 4:29-30). Prayer is not the last recourse but the first resource. Missionary work does not merely begin with prayer. Prayer must permeate every step. All our zeal, strategies, activities, and sacrifices will not compensate for prayerlessness. For this reason, the HeartCry staff gathers at the beginning of every workday to intercede on behalf of the church, the nations, our donors, and the missionaries who have gone out for the sake of the Name. Intercessory prayer will also fill our hallways, offices, and conference rooms throughout the day!

• The true gospel must be proclaimed. The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16), and the preaching of the gospel is the great means and methodology of missions. The gospel is, first and foremost, God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Corinthians 5:19). It deals with the greatest matters of human existence: sin, death, and eternity. It confronts humanity’s greatest problem: How can sinful men be reconciled to God in a manner that is consistent with His righteousness (Romans 3:26)? It provides the solution by pointing to Christ alone, who bore the sins of His people upon the cross (Isaiah 53:6; I Peter 2:24), was accursed and forsaken of God (Galatians 3:13; Matthew 24:46), and was crushed under His just wrath against sin (Isaiah 53:10; Zechariah 13:7). The “good news” of the gospel is that Christ’s vicarious life and death satisfied God’s offended justice with a full payment (John 19:30) and obtained salvation for all who believe. This hope was confirmed by God when He raised Christ from the dead (Romans 4:25).

• The gospel transcends culture. The greatest need of all people of every culture is the clear proclamation of the gospel. We are saved through the gospel and are sanctified through our growth in the full counsel of God’s Word (Romans 1:16; I Timothy 3:16; II Timothy 3:15-17). Although differences in culture must be considered, it is more important for the missionary to be biblically faithful than culturally sensitive. Christ does not bow the knee to any culture, but all cultures are commanded to bow the knee to Christ! Furthermore, His gospel requires no alteration to be effective in any land!

• Flesh-and-blood missionaries are essential. Although there are effective nonpersonal means of communicating the gospel (e.g. radio, television, internet, literature), there is no substitute for a man or woman living among a people, teaching the gospel to them, and living out his or her faith before them. God sent His own Son to become flesh and dwell among us (John 1:1, 14; 3:16). Correspondingly, the missionary must dwell among the people that he or she has been called to reach.

• Only qualified laborers should be sent to the field. Missionaries must be mature Christians in their knowledge of the Scriptures and in their character. HeartCry requires its preaching and teaching missionaries to meet the qualifications of an elder as set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. It requires those involved in administration to meet the qualifications of a deacon as set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13. Some might object to this requirement on the grounds that Paul is referring to elders and deacons and not to missionaries, church planters, or evangelists. However, this objection is answered when we realize that in the above texts, Paul is simply describing a mature Christian and then demanding that elders and deacons be mature. It is unwise to send anyone to the field that is not mature in knowledge and character. It is exceedingly unwise to send out a missionary to plant a church on the field who would not qualify to be an elder in his own church. For this reason, the Scriptures warn that a church and its elders must not ordain anyone “too hastily,” for they “will share responsibility” for his sins and the errors that may result from his ministry (I Timothy 5:22). Much damage has been done to the church and its testimony on the mission field because elders and churches have not heeded this admonition and have sent the novice and the unqualified to do Christ’s greatest work. It is important to note that this warning has equal application to women missionaries. Although they are not to serve in any capacity that would require them “to teach or exercise authority over a man” (I Timothy 2:12), they will have a tremendous impact, for better or worse, through their conduct, evangelism, and teaching ministry.

• Superficial evangelism is one of the great obstacles to missions. Non-theological preaching, entertaining skits, and gospel films are no substitute for the biblical exposition of the gospel and the Scriptures. Inviting men to raise their hands and pray a prayer is no substitute for the biblical call to repentance, faith, and personal discipleship. Biblical assurance of salvation is not founded upon a past decision that has no impact on the present, but upon the faithful and enduring work of God in the life of everyone who believes. As Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). And again, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). And finally, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

• The establishment of biblical churches is the primary work of missions. There are many gifts and callings in the body of Christ, but all of them must work together on the mission field with the primary goal of establishing biblical churches. It is not enough to evangelize or even disciple individual converts. We must unite them together in local congregations that follow the clear commands of Scripture. The Apostles and their fellow-laborers gave themselves entirely to the planting of churches throughout “all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). At HeartCry, we have determined to follow their example.

The autonomy and centrality of the local church are vital. HeartCry is a society or fellowship of like-minded churches and individual believers dedicated to strengthening indigenous local churches and partnering with them for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. It is our theological conviction that each local congregation is autonomous with regard to its own oversight and accountability to the headship of Jesus Christ. We do not exercise any supra-ecclesiastical authority above or outside a local church’s authority.

True mission work is costly. Amy Carmichael explained that missions is no more and no less than an opportunity to die. We live in a fallen world that is at enmity with God and opposes His truth (I John 5:19). Therefore, missions and suffering go hand in hand. Any advancement of the Kingdom of Christ into the dominion of the devil will be met with warfare. There are many countries and people groups where deprivation, physical suffering, and even martyrdom cannot be avoided. Those of us who have freedom and resources should count it a privilege to stand beside and support those who have gone out for the sake of the Name. We must always remember that we are all called to participate in the Great Commission. We either go down into the mine or we hold the rope for those who do. Either way, there will be scars on our hands.