A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. The English word "missionary" is derived from Latin, the equivalent of the Greek-derived word, "apostle". Although missionaries can be sent by any religion, the word is most often used to refer to Christian missionaries. Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Twelve Apostles (in Koine Greek απόστολος apostolos [1], someone sent forth/sent out, an emissary) were probably Galilean Jewish men (10 names are Aramaic, 4 names are Greek) chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth by Jesus of Nazareth to preach the Gospel to... Jump to: navigation, search Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament writings of his early followers. ...

Jewish missions

In ancient times, the Hebrew patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah were considered to be the prime role-models to "convert" the masses to Monotheism based on the verse in the Book of Genesis: Jump to: navigation, search Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, recognized by Christianity, and a very important prophet in Islam. ... Monotheism (in Greek monon = single and Theos = God) is the belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity. ... Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin) is the first book of the Torah (five books of Moses) and hence the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also the first book of the Christian Old Testament. ...

"God said to Abram, 'Go away from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you ... Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all their belongings, as well as the people they had gathered, and they left, heading toward Canaan..." [1] (Genesis 12:1;5).

"[T]he people they had gathered" is interpreted to mean the people whom Abraham and Sarah had brought over to the belief in the Hebrew God worshipped by Abraham and Sarah themselves.

In modern times, Jewish teachers repudiate proselytization. One basic argument is that all people have the law of God in their heart to a limited degree, and that to teach them more would be to make them responsible for more than Jewish law requires of them. That is, they would start as virtuous gentiles, protected by their lack of formal Torah observance, but after contact with Jewish teachings they would be held accountable to a higher Jewish religious standard. Non-Jews are therefore encouraged to observe the universal "Seven Noahide Laws" through which they can attain all their pre-destined goals in the world during their entire lifetimes. The English language word proselytism is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix pros (towards) and the verb erchomai (to come). ... Jump to: navigation, search Torah (תורה) is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Noahide laws, also called the Brit Noah (Covenant of Noah) are the mitzvot (commandments) and halakhot (laws) that Judaism teaches that all non-Jews are morally bound to follow. ...

However, most Jewish religious groups encourage "Outreach" to Jews alienated from their own heritage due to assimilation and intermarriage. The overall movement encourages Jews to become more observant of Jewish religious law (known as halakha). Those people who do become religious are known as Baal teshuvas. The large Hasidic group known as Chabad Lubavitch has internationally promoted such "outreach." Others, such as the National Jewish Outreach Program do the same in North America. Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish rabbinic law, custom and tradition. ... Baal teshuva (Hebrew: master [of] return/repentance) or chozer bi-teshuva ([to] come back/returnee in repentance/return) refers to a noticeable religious return (teshuva) of a Jew to strict Judaism or to a more Jewishly observant lifestyle than previously practiced. ... Hasidic Judaism (from the Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning pious, from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning loving kindness) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... Jump to: navigation, search Chabad Lubavitch, or Lubavich, is a large branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. ... The National Jewish Outreach Program, known as NJOP, is a Jewish adult education and outreach organization that was founded in 1987, by Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, a leading rabbi at the Lincoln Square Synagogue New York City. ...

In recent times, members of the Reform Judaism movement began a program to convert to Judaism the non-Jewish spouses of its intermarried members and non-Jews who have an interest in Judaism. Their rationale is that so many Jews were lost during the Holocaust that newcomers must be sought out and welcomed. This approach has been repudiated by Orthodox and Conservative Jews as unrealistic and posing a danger. They say that these efforts make Judaism seem an easy religion to join and observe when in reality being Jewish entails many difficulties and sacrifices. Reform Judaism is the first modern branch of Judaism; it developed in Germany and is now international, and the largest in North America. ... Jump to: navigation, search Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish people. ... Jump to: navigation, search Children survivors of the Holocaust before their liberation The Holocaust is the name applied to the systematic state-sponsored persecution and genocide of various ethnic, religious and political groups during World War II by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. ... Jump to: navigation, search Orthodox Judaism is the stream of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmud (The Oral Law) and later codified in the Shulkhan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). It is governed by these works... Conservative Judaism (or Masorti Judaism) is a denomination of Judaism characterized by: A positive attitude toward modern culture The belief that traditional rabbinic modes of study, and modern scholarship and critical text study, are both valid ways to learn about and from Jewish religious texts. ...

Catholic missions

During the Age of Discovery, the Roman Catholic Church established a number of Missions in the Americas, in order to spread Christianity in the New World and to convert the Native Americans. These are arguably the most well-known missions in History. Jump to: navigation, search The so-called Age of Discovery was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century, during which European ships were traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest church or organizational body of Christians, with a membership of over one billion people worldwide. ... Since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a widely-accepted definition of a Christian mission has been to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement. ... Jump to: navigation, search Native Americans is a term which has several different common meanings and scope, according to regional use and context. ...

Examples

• Spanish Missions of California
• Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
• Mission Santa Barbara
• Mission San Juan Bautista

The Spanish Missions of California (more simply referred to as the California Missions) comprise a series of religious outposts established by Spanish Catholic Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans, to spread the Christian doctrine among the local Native Americans, but with the added benefit of giving Spain a toehold in the frontier... Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was founded on September 1, 1772. ... Painting of the mission Known as The Queen of the Missions, Mission Santa Bárbara in California was founded on December 4, 1786 by Father Fermin Lasuen, who had taken over the Presidency of the California mission chain upon the death of Father Junipero Serra. ... Mission San Juan Bautista was founded on June 24, 1797 by Father Fermin de Lasuen, the fifteenth mission in the California mission chain. ...

Protestant missions

Since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a widely accepted definition of a Christian mission has been "to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement." This definition is motivated by theological analyses of the acts required to enhance God's reputation (usually expressed as "glory" or "honor"). The definition is claimed to summarize the acts of Jesus' ministry, which is taken as a model for all minstries. The motivation is said to be God's will, plainly stated throughout the Bible, including the Old Testament. The First International Congress on World Evangelization held from July 16. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...

Most missionaries promote economic development, literacy, education, health care and orphanages as well, because these all promote the glory of God. Standard Christian doctrines (the Doctrine of Love) cause most missions to give this aid without requiring conversion. Economic development is the development of economic wealth of countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitants. ... Literacy is the ability to read and write. ... Jump to: navigation, search Health care or healthcare is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions [1]. The healthcare industry is one of the worlds largest and fastest-growing... An orphanage is an institution dedicated to caring for orphans (children without living parents). ...

In the Bible

According to the documents of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, the Biblical authority for missions begins quite early in Genesis, 12:1-3, in which Abraham is blessed so that through him and his descendants, all the "peoples" of the world would be blessed. The Bible also says in Matthew 28:20 that the apostles were to "make disciples of all nations" Others point to God's wish, often expressed in the Bible, that all peoples of the earth would worship Him. Therefore, Christian missions go where worship is not, in order to bring worship to God... The Bible (From Greek βιβλια—biblia, meaning books, which in turn is derived from βυβλος—byblos meaning papyrus, from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus) is the sacred scripture of Christianity. ... Jump to: navigation, search Genesis (Greek: Γένεσις, having the meanings of birth, creation, cause, beginning, source and origin), also called The First Book of Moses, is the first book of Torah (five books of Moses), and is the first book of the Tanakh, part of the Hebrew Bible; it is also... Jump to: navigation, search Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم IbrāhÄ«m) is the patriarch of Judaism, recognized by Christianity, and a very important prophet in Islam. ...

See also: Christian Mission Since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a widely-accepted definition of a Christian mission has been to form a viable indigenous church-planting movement. ...

Jehovah's Witness missionaries

Jehovah's Witnesses are known for their missionary activities. Typically, all adult Witnesses are expected to spend a certain amount of time every week "witnessing" to those in their area. Depending on the laws in the respective country, this can take the form of going from door to door talking about their religion or standing in a public place holding up magazines (The Watchtower and Awake!) and responding to questions by passers-by but not soliciting contact themselves. Jump to: navigation, search Jehovahs Witnesses offer copies of The Watchtower from door to door or, when approval is given, wherever people might read them. ... Awake! is a general-interest magazine published by Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Missionaries take on a special work, such as publishing in remote areas. This requires committing to at least 130 hours in the public ministry. To prepare them for this, a special training course is provided annually for Jehovah's Witnesses who have proven an ability to perform this service. Normally they attend Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. Watchtower Bible School of Gilead is the name given to the missionary school of Jehovahs Witnesses. ...

Several years of pioneer service is required, especially in areas where special need of publishers is great. The requirements are challenging because Jehovah's Witnesses do not receive salaries for their minsterial work. A Pioneer would need to be self sufficient, working part or full time while fulfilling ministerial obligations. This prepares them for the reality of missionary work in "Third world" lands where they would need to provide for their own needs while organizing congregations. Jehovahs Witnesses have a unique organizational structure, unlike that of other religious organizations. ... For the Jamaican reggae band, see Third World (band). ...

LDS missionaries

Main article: Mormon missionary

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work. Young men between the ages of 19 and 26 are strongly encouraged to go on a two-year, full-time proselyting mission. This is usually served in a foreign country or different area of the country from where the missionary's home is. Young women and retired couples may serve missions as well. The LDS church has about 60,000 missionaries worldwide. [2] Jump to: navigation, search A Mormon missionary is a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church). ... Jump to: navigation, search The Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...

External links

• Baptist International Missions, Inc.
• Baptist World Missions
• The Official LDS MTC website
• LDS Missionary Training Centers article
• Christian Missionaries in South Africa
• Urbana Missions Convention

Individual missionary links

• Steve & Julie Kramer Missionaries to the Netherlands
• Ryan and Christy Thomas Missionaries to Mexico
• Matt and Debbie Mann Missionaries to Botswana Africa
• Wesley Pittman Missionary to Australia
• Stephen and Varya Brandon Missionaries in the Czech Republic