Defining Mission Frontiers

Mission Frontiers are something that we have been concerned about for the last forty years as an organization. But what do we mean by mission frontiers?

Mission Frontiers, like other frontiers represent boundaries or barriers beyond which we must go yet beyond which we may not be able to see clearly-boundaries which may even be disputed or denied. Their study involves the discovery and evaluation of the unknown or even the reevaluation of the known.

I want to break this down a bit and give us an idea of how we might seek God for breakthrough among a particular people group or within a particular realm by asking the right questions and hopefully discovering some of the right answers.

Mission Frontiers represent boundaries.

Where has the Gospel of Jesus Christ not yet broken through?

Mission Frontiers represent barriers.

What is keeping the Gospel from breaking through?

Mission Frontiers may be disputed or denied.

Why are some people not acknowledging these things?

Mission Frontiers involve the discovery and evaluation of the known.

How can research and critical thinking be applied to what we know and discover?

Mission Frontiers involve the reevaluation of the known.

What are some of the traditions and "sacred cows" that have been passed down that may be impeding the progress of breakthrough?

How are these things hindering or advancing the glorification of God among all people groups?

These are just some of the questions that cross cultural workers working in the frontiers of mission must wrestle with if they are serious about seeing the Gospel of the Kingdom advance into the people and places where it has not.