Missions With the Consfords
July 5, 2026
I remember the first time I had to walk three hours through the bush to preach. It was hot, the path was barely there, and I was carrying a KJV…
I remember the first time I had to walk three hours through the bush to preach. It was hot, the path was barely there, and I was carrying a KJV Bible that felt heavier with every step. I was going to a village in Ghana where they had never heard a clear gospel message. That long walk, that heavy Book, it all boiled down to one question: what the Bible says about missions.
For Laura and me, and for every missionary we know, our calling isn’t just a feeling. It’s not some vague sense of purpose. Instead, it’s a direct command from the Word of God. The mission field clarifies things quickly. It removes the padding. There are no stage lights and no weekly affirmation that you are doing well. There is only the work.
What the Bible Says About the Great Commission: Our Marching Orders
You can’t talk about missions without starting with the Great Commission. It’s the bedrock. It’s the non-negotiable command given by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, right before He ascended to Heaven. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s not an option for the super-spiritual. Rather, it’s the clear, concise instruction for every believer and every church.
In Matthew 28:19-20, the Lord says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” This is our marching order. It’s what drives us to leave home, to learn new languages, and to face challenges in places like West Africa.
The key phrase is “Go ye therefore.” It assumes movement. It assumes action. We don’t wait for the world to come to us; instead, we go to the world. We go to the villages, the cities, the markets, the homes. We go where people are, and we tell them about Jesus. This is the heart of what the Bible says about missions.
We’ve been doing this for years in Ghana, planting churches, training national pastors, and seeing souls saved. It’s a daily grind, but it’s a glorious one. If you’ve ever wondered about the nuts and bolts of what that looks like, or if you’re looking for something to stir your heart for the work, I wrote a book about it called Missionary on Fire. It’s my attempt to put some of these lessons on paper for you.
The Command to Teach and Disciple
Notice that the Great Commission doesn’t just say “Go.” It says “teach all nations” and “baptizing them” and “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” This isn’t just about sharing a tract or giving a one-time presentation. It’s about discipleship. It’s about building up believers in the faith.
That means we don’t just preach and leave. We preach, we teach, we disciple. We labor to see established local churches where new converts can grow in grace and knowledge. This takes time. It takes patience. It takes years of consistent, faithful work. You study again. You visit again. You preach again. You forgive again. You trust God again. The mission field does not reward drama. It rewards endurance.
God’s Heart for All Nations
The call to missions isn’t new to the New Testament. God’s heart for all people, for every nation and tribe, runs all the way through the Bible. It’s a foundational truth. From the very beginning, God’s plan included blessing the entire world, not just one group of people.
Consider God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” All families. Not just some. Not just the ones who look like us or speak our language. God’s blessing was always intended to flow through His chosen people to every corner of the globe. This is a clear indicator of what the Bible says about missions.
We see this same theme echoed throughout the Psalms. Psalm 67:1-2 says, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” The purpose of God’s blessing on His people is so that His salvation can be known among all nations. It’s outward-focused. It’s global.
In Ghana, we see this played out every day. We see people from different tribes – Ewe, Ga, Twi, Dagomba – all coming together in the local church, united by the blood of Christ. They learn the same KJV Bible, sing the same hymns, and fellowship together. It’s a beautiful picture of what God intended from the start. You might have heard me talk about these experiences on my video show. It’s truly a privilege to witness.
The Urgency of the Unreached
If God’s heart is for all nations, and if we have a command to go, then there’s an undeniable urgency for those who haven’t heard. There are still billions of people in the world today who have no access to the Gospel. They live and die without ever hearing the name of Jesus.
The Apostle Paul understood this urgency. In Romans 10:14-15, he asks, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” These verses cut right to the core of the mission. Someone has to go. Someone has to preach. Someone has to send them.
In West Africa, we work among people groups who are considered unreached. Many of them are Muslim, animist, or practice traditional religions. They have their own beliefs, their own traditions, but they don’t have the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That’s why we’re there. That’s why we work to train national believers to reach their own people.
“Globally, there are over 3.2 billion people living in unreached people groups, representing 7,400 distinct groups, who have little to no access to the Gospel.”
International Mission BoardMissionary on Fire Podcast
Preserving the Legacy of Faithful Missionaries
The Missionary on Fire podcast features interviews with veteran missionaries, classic sermons from the field, and stories of God’s faithfulness across generations. If you love the heart behind these stories, you will love the podcast. New episodes regularly.
That statistic isn’t just a number; it’s billions of souls. It’s men, women, and children who need to hear the good news. Consequently, we don’t slow down. We keep pushing forward, even when it’s hard. The need is too great to do otherwise. This understanding of the desperate need underscores what the Bible says about missions.
Missions is More Than Going: It’s Sending and Supporting
When we talk about what the Bible says about missions, it’s easy to focus only on the “goer.” However, the Bible also has a lot to say about the “sender.” Not everyone is called to move to a foreign land, but every believer is called to be involved in missions.
The Apostle Paul, one of history’s greatest missionaries, relied heavily on the support of local churches. He thanked the Philippian church in Philippians 4:15-16, saying, “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.” Their partnership made his ministry possible. They couldn’t go, but they could send.
This is the model for missions today. Missionaries like Laura and me are sent out by local churches. We rely on the faithful prayers and financial support of God’s people back home. It’s a partnership. We go, and you send. We preach, and you pray. We disciple, and you give. It takes all of us working together to fulfill the Great Commission.
Back home in Texas, problems were fixed through systems: forms, policies, and departments. But in Africa, systems do not run things; relationships do. The cable did not get installed because of pressure. It got installed because of breakfast. Likewise, missions isn’t just a system; it’s a relationship between the missionary, the sending church, and the people being reached. If you’d like to partner with us through prayer or financial support, we’d be honored.
The Cost and the Reward of Following God’s Call
The Bible doesn’t shy away from the cost of discipleship, and that includes missions. Jesus Himself said in Luke 14:27, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Missions often means sacrifice. It means leaving family, friends, and familiar comforts behind. It means facing loneliness, hardship, and sometimes even danger.
I can tell you, there have been times in Ghana when the challenges felt overwhelming. The language barriers, the cultural differences, the constant spiritual warfare – it’s real. There are days when you wonder if you’re making any difference at all. I may have praised the Lord loud enough for the whole building to hear when a small problem finally got fixed. That went about as well as you would expect.
But the Bible also promises an incredible reward. The joy of seeing a soul saved, of witnessing someone turn from darkness to light, is immeasurable. The privilege of being used by God to fulfill His eternal purpose is worth every sacrifice. We’re not just building churches; we’re building eternal families. The stories of God’s faithfulness, even in the hardest times, are what keep us going. The lessons I’ve learned from these experiences are a big part of what I share in my books.
Ultimately, what the Bible says about missions is a clear, consistent, and compelling call to action. It’s God’s plan to reach a lost world, and He invites us to be a part of it. It’s not just a suggestion; it’s a command, rooted in His character and fulfilled through His power.
We are all called to some form of missions, whether it’s across the street or across the ocean. The question isn’t whether God wants us involved, but how. Are you praying for missionaries? Are you giving to support them? Are you willing to go if He calls? Let the truth of God’s Word ignite a passion for the lost in your heart today. If you’re ready to dig deeper into the practical side of missionary life and find out what it really takes, consider picking up a copy of Missionary on Fire.
Joe Consford is a Baptist missionary serving in Ghana, West Africa, with his wife Laura. He writes about missionary life, missions training, and the work of the Gospel in West Africa at consfords.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary biblical basis for Christian missions?
The primary biblical basis for Christian missions is the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus commands believers to ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’ This serves as the foundational instruction for what the Bible says about missions.
What does ‘Go ye therefore’ imply for missionaries in places like West Africa?
The phrase ‘Go ye therefore’ implies active movement and initiative. Missionaries are not to wait for people to come to them but are commanded to actively go to villages, cities, markets, and homes to share the gospel. This is a core aspect of what the Bible says about missions, requiring intentional outreach.
Beyond evangelism, what other commands does the Great Commission include for missionaries?
Beyond initial evangelism, the Great Commission commands missionaries to ‘teach all nations,’ ‘baptizing them,’ and ‘Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’ This emphasizes discipleship, building up believers, and establishing local churches where new converts can grow in faith and knowledge.
How does long-term discipleship on the mission field align with biblical commands?
Long-term discipleship aligns directly with the biblical command to ‘teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’ It signifies a commitment beyond initial conversion, focusing on nurturing new believers into mature followers of Christ and establishing self-sustaining local churches. This patient, consistent labor is crucial for fulfilling what the Bible says about missions.