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The Father of modern missions is William Carey (17 August 1761 – 9 June 1834.) He was an English Christian minister, translator, social reformer, and cultural anthropologist. His essay, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens, launched the Modern Missionary Enterprise.

In 1910, the World Missionary Conference was held in Edinburgh, Scotland. A decade later, the International Missionary Council was organized in London, to coordinate the work of missions worldwide. It was followed by meetings at Jerusalem (1928), Tambaram, India (1938), Whitby, Canada (1947), Willingen, Germany (1952), Accra, Ghana (1958), and New Delhi, India (1961), when the International Missionary Council was integrated with the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

A radical shift took place in the missionary message of the WCC, stating that missions must deal with the socio-political challenges of the Third World and work for a change in the unjust structures of society that cause their poverty.

For Christians, the Great Commission remains our marching order. (See Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15–18, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:19-23, and Acts 1:8.) The modern means of communication enable us to spread the Gospel globally. In my experience, I have found Ephesians provides excellent guidance on missions.

The Believer’s Security is Grounded in God’s Eternal Purposes:

In chapter 1, Paul provides spiritual context for sharing the gospel.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (1:3-14)

Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians is ideal as a Paradigm for Missions:

In chapter 2, Paul describes the Lord’s provision of salvation.

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (2:8-10)

The Christian’s Lifestyle:

In chapter 4, Paul shares how we should respond.

“I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (4:1-7)

The Christian’s Struggle:

Paul described the believer’s combat with the evil spiritual forces using the Roman armor of his days.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (6:10-17)

Nowadays, this armor is best described in: God’s Kingdom & the Utopian Error: Distinguishing the Biblical Kingdom of God from its Political Counterfeits, by Peter P.J. Beyerhaus, Crossway Books 1992. After retiring from Tübingen University, Dr. Beyerhaus organized Institut Diakrisis (Diakrisis - IKBG) to continue discussing intellectual and spiritual currents in the Church.