Don’t Let Fear Drive Your Church Missions Efforts

In the early 2000s, a promising tech startup named Vector Innovations found itself on the brink of success. The team had a groundbreaking product, a unique software that could revolutionize data security. Investors were intrigued, and the market seemed ready. But instead of propelling forward, Vector Innovations stalled. Meetings would often end in heated debates over "what-if" scenarios, and ambitious projects were scrapped before they even began. The root cause? Fear.

The leadership team was paralyzed by a fear of the unknown. What if the software didn’t perform well? What if a competitor released a similar product first? Instead of trusting their innovation, they focused on every possible risk. These safety concerns, intended to protect their interests, ultimately strangled their growth. Adding to their hesitation was a fear of failure—the idea of public embarrassment, lost investments, and the damage to their reputations if the product flopped. As a result, despite having a product with potential, they never moved past the planning stage.

Vector’s story is not unique. Fear, in its various forms, often prevents individuals, companies, and churches from reaching their full potential. The area where I have seen fear have it’s greatest impact is in the missions ministry. This article explores four common fears that frequently derail success: fear of the unknown, safety concerns, fear of failure, and the paralysis that comes from financial fears when churches attempt to do great things in missions. Understanding these barriers is the first step in breaking free from them and achieving true growth.

1. Fear of the Unknown

Venturing into new cultural and linguistic territories can be daunting. The uncertainty of working in unfamiliar environments can deter churches from initiating overseas mission efforts.

Solution: Education and partnership are vital to overcoming this fear. To move beyond this fear, Churches should seek alliances with established mission organizations or missionaries that deeply understand the target culture and language. Engaging with a missionary will help a church learn what a potential culture is like. Taking short-term mission trips with that missionary who can guide you into a culture usually alleviates fears we can build up in our minds. Gaining that firsthand experience reduces the fear of the unknown and prepares a church for longer-term commitments.

2. Safety Concerns

“Is it safe” is a question I get constantly from Pastors and lay people. I sometimes understand where they are coming from … sometimes. Pastors do not want to place their congregation in a place of political and social instability or a place where religious persecution is prevalent. Health risks can also be a concern.

Solution: When I asked this question of one of my mentors, Dr. Nik Ripken, his reply to me was: “Show me in the Bible where safety is a main concern in sharing the gospel”. Yikes, he's right. There are places that should be reserved for the seasoned missionary or advocate who knows how to navigate such places and situations. I would guess that 98% of the questions I get about overseas travel and safety are never about really dangerous places. They are shocked when I share that they are probably safer overseas than in some large American cities and neighborhoods.  

One way to relieve concerns is a comprehensive risk assessment and preparation to mitigate these concerns. Partnering with experienced missionaries already living in places a church is considering is huge in navigating the complexities of international missions work. In addition, adding valuable safety training, security measures, and emergency plans can help alleviate a lot of fear. Faith communities can also prioritize prayer support for safety and wisdom in decision-making.

Another step is to help your congregations stop taking their cues from the nightly news. The goal of the news media and social media is to attract viewers or sell clicks. Fear, war, and other dangerous news attract readers and viewers. Instead of focusing on secular media outlets, we should be taking our cues and information from people who actually live on sight in the places we are considering going.  

On a side note: We never send people into places we know are dangerous. Our desire is to do our best to be wise and take care of our people. We also do not allow satan to build such a stronghold of fear we fail to go into the world in places God where Christ is not known. I believe there is a priority in world missions in going to the least reached places. ( Romans 15:19-21)

3. Fear of Failure

The fear that mission efforts might not yield tangible results can immobilize churches, leading to a reluctance to participate in outreach—particularly when success is measured by numbers. In American culture, statistics often define value. This mindset has infiltrated Evangelicalism, where churches frequently measure their effectiveness by comparing attendance, baptisms, and growth metrics against others (see 2 Corinthians 10:12). Missions, too, can fall victim to this numerical evaluation. Entire publications are dedicated to ranking the largest and fastest-growing congregations, making numbers seem like the ultimate indicator of success.

I know of a church that took this approach to an extreme by establishing a “return on investment” (ROI) for their mission work. For every $10,000 they spent, they expected a set number of conversions. If a mission field couldn’t deliver the desired numbers, they simply wouldn’t engage—avoiding regions like the Middle East, where quick results are rare. This ROI mindset, in my opinion, only breeds dishonesty, tempting people to manipulate what is reported just to meet targets.

Conversely, I’ve met missionaries who have served faithfully for 20-25 years in difficult areas and seen only a handful of people come to Christ. Are they failures because the numbers don’t meet expectations? The answer is no. They were obedient to God’s call, and we may never fully grasp what seeds were planted through their perseverance. How can we possibly measure the impact of decades of labor, prayer, and sacrifice in spiritual terms?

Counting, in itself, is not inherently wrong—it can be a neutral act depending on its purpose. But the danger arises when we let statistics dictate where we engage, avoiding the very places that need the gospel the most simply because the numbers may not reflect immediate success. True faithfulness is not about meeting quotas; it’s about following God’s leading, regardless of the visible results.

Solution:

Transforming your church culture can be a powerful catalyst for deepening missional engagement.

If we allow the fear of numerical setbacks to prevent us from reaching into areas with little gospel presence, we risk valuing human approval over God’s mission. Our need to be seen as successful in the eyes of others should never overshadow our commitment to spreading the gospel, especially in places where Christ is least known. The desire for validation can easily become a trap that hinders us from pursuing God’s greater purpose. Instead, we must prioritize obedience over outcomes, trusting that true success is measured by faithfulness to God’s call.

How do we do that?

We preach it, we teach it, and we celebrate obedience to the call over numerical counting as our only criteria. A church gets what it celebrates. If we only celebrate those trips or ministries with big numbers, then we see people gravitate to the ministries that get the most praise and attention. This is usually done to the detriment of those ministries that need the most attention and effort.

4. Fear of Financial Strain

The financial commitment required for overseas missions can be a daunting obstacle, especially for smaller congregations already stretched thin by budget concerns. Many churches hesitate to even start a missions program, worried that funding it could detract from other vital ministries.

Solution: In my experience, God always provides the resources for what He calls us to do. Scripture makes it clear that world missions are not optional, and when we step out in obedience, He supplies what’s needed to accomplish His purpose. I have witnessed time and time again that when churches prioritize missions, God opens doors and provides the means to see it through.

For instance, my church has aggressively pursued new partnerships overseas and organized numerous outreach events, even in challenging seasons. During COVID, when many churches were struggling, we experienced growth and provision. I believe it was because we remained faithful and did not pull back from our commitment to reach both our community and the world. As a result, God continually supplied the resources needed to fulfill His mission.

The solution is to trust God and take bold steps toward what He calls your church to pursue. When faithful pastors clearly communicate God’s heart for missions, He moves in the hearts of the congregation to join in the work. As a wise pastor once told me, “Money follows mission.” When we prioritize God’s purpose, we can trust that He will provide exactly what we need when we need it. Prayer is essential in discerning what He asks of us, and faith is the key to stepping forward in obedience.

Fear, in any form, can hinder a church’s engagement in global missions. Yet, through thoughtful planning, faith-centered partnerships, and a deep trust in God’s provision, these obstacles can be overcome. When churches adopt a faith-driven mindset, they can turn apprehension into assurance, transforming fear into action and fully stepping into their role in the Great Commission.