Missions Are Shifting: From Empire to Servanthood in the Next Generation
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
The shifting landscape of Christian missions is one of the most exciting—and sometimes unsettling—realities facing the church today. In a recent episode of the Christian Podcast, hosts Beto and Mili sat down with Pastor Ric Olsen from The Beacon (a network of house churches in Orange, Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Temecula, part of the North American Baptist Conference) for a raw, Spirit-led conversation. They unpacked how missions are evolving from Western-dominated efforts to a more reciprocal, global model, while challenging the church to reject empire-style power in favor of Jesus' way of servanthood.
If you've ever wondered:
Is traditional missions outdated?
Are immigrants becoming missionaries to the U.S.?
How can the church engage culture without seeking power?
What does loving your city look like practically?
This blog draws from their discussion to address these common questions with biblical insight, real-world examples, and hope for the future.
1. How Have Missions Changed in Recent Years?
Historically, missions often flowed from the West (especially the U.S. and Europe) outward, sometimes carrying imperial baggage—imposing Western culture alongside the gospel. But the center of gravity for Christianity has shifted dramatically to the Global South (Africa, Latin America, Asia), where the majority of believers now live.
Pastor Ric shared that many long-term mission fields (like those supported by NAB in places such as Cameroon or Brazil) have matured: local leaders now own the work, and Western partners serve them rather than lead. This leads to "reverse mission"—believers from the Global South sending missionaries to the West, including the U.S.Examples include:
Brazilian missionaries reaching Brazilian immigrants in Boston.
Potential from Japan or other Asian countries.
Immigrants (legal or otherwise) arriving as committed believers, living out faithful discipleship in workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools—effectively becoming unintentional missionaries.
As Beto (an immigrant from Mexico) and Mili noted from their Hispanic church experience, many newcomers carry deep faith and a desire to showcase Jesus to their new neighbors. Migration creates openness: people away from home are often more receptive to community and the gospel.
In short, missions are becoming polycentric—multi-directional, collaborative, and less about one-way sending.
2. Why Does Power Matter So Much in Missions and Church Life?
A recurring theme was how the church has inherited Roman Empire power structures—hierarchy, control, titles like "senior pastor," and decision-making that defaults to dominance. This echoes Kyle Strobel and Jamin Goggin's book The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb, which contrasts Satan's way (power through force) with Jesus' way (power through weakness, sacrifice, and servanthood).
Pastor Ric pointed out that this imperial mindset has led to violations: disrespecting cultures, controlling people through fear (e.g., withholding baptism to maintain "control"), or missions that feel conquering rather than serving. Even well-intentioned efforts—like short-term trips—can sometimes prioritize the sender's experience over long-term commitment.
Jesus modeled the opposite: washing feet, embracing the marginalized, redeeming cultures without erasing them. The call is to release power—let locals lead, partner as servants, and discern what's redeemable in every culture (e.g., Hawaiian "aloha" blended with Jesus' love, or honoring ancestors without pagan worship).
3. How Should Christians Engage Culture and Media Today?
With globalism and the internet, we experience other cultures through movies, music, and stories. Beto referenced Bad Bunny's nostalgic lyrics about Puerto Rican identity and fears of cultural loss (like Hawaii), highlighting immigrant longing for roots while carrying Christ.
The key is discernment, not rejection: test everything, hold to the good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Movies like The Chosen use modern storytelling to make the gospel relatable worldwide. Even non-Christian media (e.g., shame-culture themes in certain films) can serve as diagnostics to understand others' struggles.Mili emphasized living the Beatitudes—humility, mercy, peacemaking—as everyday mission, loving people across divides (rich/poor, believer/non-believer) without compromise.
4. What Does "Loving Your City" Look Like Practically?
Pastor Ric leads Love Orange, a nonprofit tied to Trellis OC's model (uniting churches, businesses, government, and communities to address city needs). It's a "mutual playground" where churches serve without power grabs—providing a gift to the city through volunteerism, prayer, and collaboration on issues like homelessness or community events.
Unlike centralized programs (e.g., massive VBS for numbers), the focus is relational: backyard outreach, neighborhood service, partnering with city leaders as servants. Churches once filled social gaps (caring for the sick during plagues); reclaiming that role counters the past century's retreat from "social gospel" fears.
Mili shared her heart: missions start at home—praying for neighbors (even atheists or those who build walls), hugging the hurting, asking deeper questions. Short trips get people out of bubbles; long-term commitment builds roots.
Looking Ahead: What Will Missions Look Like in the Coming Decades?
Pastor Ric used the podcast's "belief meter" emojis:
Blasphemous: Clinging to imperial power (e.g., obsessing over titles or "servant leadership" that still prioritizes leading over serving).
Skeptical: The modern Western church's ongoing addiction to the same.
Inspired: Repentance for past mistakes, with leaders from the Global South rising (e.g., NAB's new missions VP from India).
Holy: Partnering with other nations, receiving missionaries here.
Divine: Jesus building His church—quiet, underground transformation with life change, justice, and righteousness, not spectacle.
Trends point to more collaboration, diaspora-driven outreach, and humility. As Beto and Mili affirmed, the goal is pointing to Jesus—honoring Him through surrender, sharing His suffering and glory (Romans 8), loving everyone as He does.
Final Thoughts
Missions aren't dying—they're transforming. The invitation is to join Jesus' way: serve humbly, release control, love locally and globally. Whether through reverse mission, city partnerships like Love Orange, or daily neighborly kindness, the church can be faithful without empire.
Listen to the full episode on christianpodcast.com for the spontaneous, Holy Spirit-led talk. If you're in Orange County, connect with The Beacon at thebeacon.church or get involved with Love Orange at loveorange.org.
What questions do you have about missions today? Drop them in the comments—we'd love to explore more.
Beto, Mili, and the Christian Podcast team
Loving Jesus, loving people—one conversation at a time.
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