The church is God’s chosen vessel for accomplishing His mission on earth. At All-Nations Bible Translation, this vision is clear: establishing communities of believers in every language group living out the Word of God. We partner with churches to send teams who facilitate Bible translation, community development, and church planting among unreached people groups. These teams are like special operations soldiers, sent into spiritually dark regions to bring the light of Christ through quality relationships, cultural understanding, and incarnational living. However, the success of this mission depends on the strength and unity of the sending churches.
A powerful, united church is essential to sending and sustaining families on the field. These families face overwhelming challenges—mental exhaustion, burnout, visa denials, security threats, and more. Without the steadfast support of a church body that is “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10), they are left vulnerable. Yet, a united church, fully surrendered to Jesus Christ, can accomplish the impossible.
When God looked down at the people building the Tower of Babel, He said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them" (Genesis 11:6). If human unity could achieve such power for worldly purposes, how much more can a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church accomplish when united in mission?
The early church in Acts exemplifies this truth: "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common" (Acts 4:32). Their unity unleashed the power of the gospel to spread like wildfire.
A friend of mine, a minister, shared a heart wrenching story. While teaching at a Bible school, he asked a group of sixty youth how many of them or their parents had gone through a church split or division. Only one girl said her family had not experienced such a tragedy. This reality reflects the brokenness of many modern churches and sheds light on why families on the field often suffer. Mental breakdowns, depression, and burnout are often symptoms of being sent by fractured and weak churches.
Despite these challenges, we have hope. Jesus said, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). The church of Jesus Christ will not fail. The story ends in triumph.
For families on the mission field, the sending church is their lifeline. These families need more than financial support—they need moral, logistical, prayer, and communication support. They need a church body actively aware of their needs, praying fervently, and walking alongside them every step of the way.
Paul provides a powerful example of a supportive church in Philippians 4:14-16, where he thanks the Philippians for sharing in his distress and providing for his needs: "No church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only." A sending church like this ensures that missionaries are not left to fend for themselves.
To send families into the most dangerous places in the world to plant churches, we need powerful, united churches. These churches must surrender fully to Jesus Christ and commit to being the backbone of missions. Every member has a role to fill—praying fervently, giving sacrificially, encouraging consistently, and standing in the gap for those on the frontlines.
The Apostle Paul reminds us, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). A sending church actively supporting its missionaries shares in their struggles, lifting the weight of loneliness, discouragement, and spiritual warfare.
Imagine the unstoppable force of a church united in purpose, driven by a shared vision of advancing God’s kingdom among unreached people groups. With one heart and one soul, they send workers into the darkest places, where they build relationships, learn languages, and translate the Word of God. These families will most likely not succeed without the church standing firmly behind them.
Though the challenges are great, the promise of Scripture is greater. Jesus assured us that the church will triumph: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). The vision of Bible translation and church planting aligns with this ultimate fulfillment.
Let us rise to the call as sending churches. Let us be united in love, fervent in prayer, and unwavering in our support for the soldiers of Christ who carry His light into the darkness. Together, as the body of Christ, we are unstoppable.
— Harold R. Troyer