Raising Awareness - Discipling the Nations Who was the Lord talking to when He commissioned His followers to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ...?" Missions specialists? Pastors? Evangelists? Local Churches? Or, since Jesus spoke this charge without any qualification, you and me? Since we each are held accountable for our part in the task assigned us, here are seven suggestions to proactively build missions awareness in a local church (apart from hosting a missions conference). Maintain a constant flow of news about missions through all church media such as the Sunday bulletin, church newsletter, missions moments in services. Focus prayer on missionary needs.  This will mean communicating with missionaries to learn their concerns and challenges. How can they complete their task, when? Have people sign up to be special prayer partners for one or more missionaries. Be sure missionary email notes and prayer letters are circulated to these special partners. Feature a different missionary each week. Give regular missions updates in church services and Sunday school classes. This will mean a committee will have to resource the missions moment and teachers. Audio, video, letters and email reports from the field can generate additional interest. Display a missionary bulletin board prominently.  Photographs of missionaries "in action", art work from the nations are interesting. A team should be commissioned to keep the display fresh. Provide mind-stretching literature.  Make available missions periodicals and stimulating books. Study missions books in small groups. Biographies can influence young people to consider careers in missions. Arrange trips for groups to serve missionaries on special projects from a week or two, all summer or, for those the Lord might be calling, short-term assignments for six months to two years. Encourage families to talk about missions at home.  Provide maps, letters, pictures, and encourage them to discover a missionary's nation. All the family can get involved connecting with missionaries. Review "Proactively Identify Missionary Candidates"