Called to be Sent - Acts 13

 ¹ Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

The first missionary trip was established by God.  He selected the missionaries.  Today it should not be any different.  God should select the missionaries and the church should support them.  I am always alarmed by churches that do not know any missionaries.  A church body should place a high emphasis on those who have been called by God and who have responded willingly to give up their whole lives to follow where He leads.  There should be a relationship between a church body and those missionaries.  The missionaries should be honored and supported.  Yet, many churches do not know the name of a single missionary.  Giving to a global fund, while helpful, simply does not cause a church to be responsible providing in personal support.  A church body should have "skin in the game".

God has selected all of us for a particular work.  Not everyone is called to be a missionary.  We should support each other in that work that each is called to do.  We as the church should be in constant prayer for one another that God would have His favor upon us and we can then support each other to do that work.  Notice that God said to other men in the church that He wanted to send Barnabas and Saul to do work He had called them to do.  This seems to be too rare today.  I can't remember the last time fellow church members were worshiping and fasting and were given directions by God concerning another person's ministry and how they were to help them.  My observation is people are always trying to discern their God given purpose; they are not actively seeking how God would use them to support another's ministry.  

The church is fasting and worshiping.  Do churches do this today?  The Word of the Lord came directly to them and the church obeyed immediately.  Again, do churches do this today?  A more likely scenario is someone would take it to a committee and the church influencers would cause this not to happen because they would want Barnabas and Saul to stay there as pastors.  (Too many people with influence in today's church follow what they want, not what God wants.)

⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

Cyprus is the home of Barnabas.  They go to his home island to be a witness for Jesus, to teach who He was and give the gospel message.  He will return to Cyprus on his 2nd missionary journey as well.