The Marketspace: Essential Relationships Between the Sending Church, Marketplace Worker, and Missionary Team

by Larry E. McCrary, Amanda May (Editor), Bradley Bell (Editor)

Marketplace workers make up the majority of every church’s membership. Yet, in reality there is only a small percentage of church members who usually take part in God’s mission. They are the ones who are trained, sent, and expected to engage in missions, because they are the “professionals.” That leaves the vast majority of the missionary force in our churches untrained, unsent, and unengaged. But the Great Commission does not belong only to the full-time ordained Christian workers. The mission is the responsibility of every follower of Christ.

If we believe that to be true, then it must affect our churches. It must affect who and how we equip and send. We need to start preparing our marketspace people (which includes most of the church) to be able to take the gospel wherever they are, in whatever profession they are in, to their neighbors and to the nations. Larry McCrary urges us to strategically utilize these workers for God’s mission. McCrary’s unique perspective on the relationships between the marketplace worker, the sending church, and the missionary team is vital in the "marketspace," the term he coined to describe the space in which a person works and interacts with others on a daily basis.

Are you considering using a different pathway to spread the gospel? How can your church support marketplace workers? How can your missionary crew integrate new members onto your team?

If you find yourself asking any of these questions, then this book will be more than just another perspective on the value of marketplace missions.

182 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2018

Reviews

[Zachary Davin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful little book connecting international missions and the marketplace worker. The divide between “sacred” and “secular” work is prominent in modern ministry/missions, falsely compartmentalizing our life and ministry.

McCrary discusses how the marketplace worker can provide value to a missionary team by helping break through some of the barriers of connecting with people and providing legitimacy for being in a specific location. (amongst other things!)

Living missionally is not just for full-time missionaries but for all believers, even those who work regular jobs seeking to have eternal impact.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for anyone considering an "alternative pathway" to missions. Built on the foundation the Great Commission is given to all believers (not just the chosen few) the book addresses traditional missionary teams, churches, and the international employee who is seeking to live missionally where they are. The book covers the pros and cons for all three groups as they seek to engage "non-traditional" missionaries. As the global world grows smaller and more people work and move abroad, this book offers timely suggestions for using the market place for the glory of God.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource that will help people see how they can use their vocation and skills to fulfill the great commission. Larry McCrary provides great practical advice for people considering cross-cultural mission work, and shows how the marketspace worker, churches, and missionary teams can all work together to help accomplish the Great Commission. Larry is a practitioner and the book is filled with many helpful personal examples drawn from his experiences living overseas and working with marketspace workers. This is a valuable resource for anyone considering working overseas, for churches who want to become more active in fulfilling the Great Commission, and vocational missionaries to better understand how to receive and work with marketspace workers. Highly recommended!

[John Ragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, personal interaction with idea of living overseas missionally

Lots of interesting stories and practical examples of how Christians can utilize their vocation in the Great Commission. The author brought tons of experience to the table, and it was a quick read!