On getting involved.

I write this post in response to a question posed to me by a reader. First off, I'll define what it means to be on mission. To be on mission does not necessarily mean trudging through some jungle to reach a remote tribe of people with the Gospel (though that would be pretty sweet). My definition (you can take it or leave it) of BEING ON MISSION means that you are working to GROW THE CHURCH. In obedience to the Great Commission, you are spreading the Gospel, and that can be done overseas or right on your street.
That being said, there are three ways to be involved in missions: pray, give or go.
Prayer is absolutely essential. In his letters to churches Paul frequently spoke about the power of prayer: "For we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding....we also pray that you will be strengthened will all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need" (Colossians 1:9,11). Prayer works, and extremely encouraging to those being prayed for. You can form a group in your church and pray for those on missions, or that God will lead you to some kind of ministry.
The second thing is giving. You can give money, time or space. Open up your home to your fellow church members, give a little bit of your spare time to teach Sunday school or mentor a new believer. If you've got money to spare, give it to a ministry. In answer to the question of some overseas ministries: there is the International Mission Board, possibly the most well-known world ministry and an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention (the Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon offerings are seasonal offerings that give to this ministry); other quite well known ministries include International Teams, New Tribes Ministries, iGo Global and Youth With a Mission. There are many global and local ministries that you can look up, or I can and list them in the next post.
Lastly, you can go. This is what is usually thought of first when one thinks of missions because it is generally seen as the most daring, or at least the most conspicuous form of ministry. Traveling to another country risking life and death is dramatic, romantic in a way; and truthfully, not everyone can do it. But not everyone is called to do it either. There are those who can't go because of work or family obligations, but those are the ones who can provide the way for the people who are free from such obligations and are willing to go. If you can devote the time, find out where you're called to go and then get to work raising the money. If you must stay, then do what you can to support those who are going. Whichever you are--one who stays or one who goes--don't neglect each other. The church is meant to work together, and simply can't be effective any other way.
I hope that answered some questions. If you're thinking of going overseas or getting involved locally, pray about it and talk to some smart, experienced people in your church. Stepping out and being an active Christian, taking the Gospel to places untouched is unlike anything else in the world. Believers aren't supposed to be passive, or comfortable--but that's for another conversation. Next post, I'll talk about overseas trips--from talking toilets in Tokyo to llama-skin beds and the great outdoors in Bolivia.

"But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"
1 Corinthians 2:14-16