Mike Woods is a consultant to churches requesting assistance from Key Ministry in addition to his work as Director of Special Needs Ministry at First Baptist Orlando. Here’s the next installment in Mike’s series on “missional” approaches to special needs ministry…

Missio Dei is a theological term that can be translated as the “mission of God,” or the “sending of God.” Our Father has always been on mission! He’s a “sender.”

• God sent angels.
• He sent prophets.
• He sent the entire nation of Israel to be the light of the nations.

And then, finally, He sent His Son.

In essence, the term “Missio Dei” reflects the central belief that God is a missionary God and that He sends the church into the world to be an agent of His redemptive plan and purpose.

Dr. Francis DuBose, author of the book, the “God Who Sends: A Fresh Quest for Biblical Mission.” writes:

“Of the some sixty references in the Gospel of John concerning “mission,” some forty-four refer to the title of God as “one who sends” and of Christ as “one who is sent.” It cannot be overemphasized how deeply the sending concept relates to Jesus’ identity. Almost every page of John’s Gospel reveals a passage in which Jesus expressed who He is in terms of his sense of being sent, his sense of mission.”

• Jesus came not to do his will but the will of the Father who sent him (4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40).
• Jesus came not to speak his words but the words of the Father who sent him (7:16-18; 8:26-29; 12:49; 14:24; 17:8).
• Jesus came not to do his own work but the work of the Father who sent him (4:34; 5:36; 9:4).
• Jesus acknowledged that his very life rested with the Father who had sent him (4:34; 6:57).

So, consider this: identifying yourself with Christ simply means that you too are now a “sent” one. Just check out John 20:21 and you’ll see that Jesus said as much:

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

I think it’s essential that the church keep before it the sending theme of the Gospel of John. It defines who we are and what we are called to do. And you don’t have to travel half-way across the world to do it…you can be “sent” right into your own community.

My question to you is, “How might the way you do special needs ministry beyond the walls of your church be affected by recapturing the sense of being sent?”

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