Many churches are involved in missions, taking the gospel to unreached, unheard, unengaged people. Of course, many churches ignore or are not involved in missions. There are four kinds of missions.
Outsourcing: Many local churches become partners with mission agencies. The churches would sponsor one or a few missionaries by paying their salaries through some organization. The mission agency takes responsibility for recruitment, training, selecting the mission field, deploying, and caring for missionaries. This could be for one year or a few years. Sometimes, the missionaries could have a relationship in terms of sending reports, prayer requests, and the church responding through the mission agency.
Unintentional: In some congregations, the church may not be officially engaged in missions. However, there would be some lay people who take the initiative to share the gospel. Many mainline churches grow or plant more congregations through the efforts of lay leaders. Philip was a lay leader who took the initiative to go to Samaria. (Acts 8: 5-8) Severe persecution paved the way for Philip to move to Samaria.
Breakthrough: Sometimes, God takes initiative as the church is unmindful or not sensitive. The early church did not take the gospel proactively to non-Jews including Romans and Greeks. God had to impress Peter to respond to a request that would come from a Roman General Cornelius. (Acts 10) Even after Cornelius and his family became followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, there was no focused effort to reach out to the Gentiles.
Strategic: Some churches are strategically involved in the missions. The Church at Antioch is a great example. First, they prayed to the Lord to know the purpose of their church and their role in the completion of the Great Commission. Second, God gave them the vision to reach out to nations or spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Third, God called Barnabas and Saul (Paul) who were gifted teachers to go out as missionaries. (Acts 13:1-2) Fourth, the church commissioned them and supported them. Five, the missionaries came back to share reports.
Am I part of the strategic mission movement?