What you'll learn
This topic examines how Christians spread their faith through mission and evangelism, and how the Church operates as a global community. You must understand different approaches to sharing the Gospel, the work of Christian organisations worldwide, and the reasons behind missionary activity. Exam questions test your ability to explain Christian practices, evaluate their effectiveness, and apply religious teachings to contemporary issues.
Key terms and definitions
Mission — the calling of the Church to share the Gospel and serve others, following Jesus' command in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Evangelism — the practice of actively converting others to Christianity by sharing the message of Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
The Great Commission — Jesus' instruction to his disciples after the Resurrection to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20), forming the basis of Christian missionary work.
Social Gospel — the belief that Christians should focus on addressing social injustice, poverty and inequality as part of their faith practice, not just spiritual conversion.
Ecumenism — the movement promoting unity and cooperation between different Christian denominations and churches worldwide.
Proselytism — aggressive or forceful attempts to convert people to Christianity, often viewed negatively as disrespectful to other faiths.
Church growth — the expansion of Christianity through conversions, church planting and increased membership globally.
Interfaith dialogue — respectful conversation and cooperation between Christians and people of other religions, promoting understanding without necessarily seeking conversion.
Core concepts
Biblical basis for mission and evangelism
Christians trace their commitment to spreading the faith directly to scriptural commands. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 records Jesus instructing his disciples: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This passage provides the fundamental mandate for Christian missionary activity.
Additional biblical support includes:
- Acts 1:8 — "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"
- Mark 16:15 — "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation"
- Romans 10:14 — Paul's rhetorical question: "How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?"
Christians interpret these texts as direct commands from Jesus that apply to all believers, not just the original disciples. The Book of Acts demonstrates the early Church immediately beginning missionary work, with Paul's journeys establishing churches across the Roman Empire serving as the model for subsequent Christian mission.
Different approaches to evangelism
Personal evangelism involves individual Christians sharing their faith through conversation, testimony and lifestyle example. This one-to-one approach emphasises building relationships and answering questions about faith naturally. Many Christians believe this authentic approach is most effective because it demonstrates lived faith rather than mere words.
Mass evangelism uses large-scale events, rallies and crusades to reach many people simultaneously. Billy Graham's evangelistic campaigns exemplified this method, drawing thousands to hear the Gospel message. Modern equivalents include Christian music festivals like Soul Survivor or Spring Harvest where worship combines with teaching and altar calls for conversion.
Digital evangelism has become increasingly important in the 21st century. Churches and organisations use social media, websites, podcasts and YouTube channels to reach global audiences. The Alpha Course now runs online, allowing people worldwide to explore Christianity from home. Digital methods allow Christians to share testimonies and teachings beyond geographical limitations.
Lifestyle evangelism focuses on living according to Christian values so attractively that others become curious about the faith. This approach emphasises actions over words, believing that "they will know we are Christians by our love" (John 13:35). Supporting the homeless, volunteering in communities, or demonstrating forgiveness in difficult situations can prompt questions about faith motivations.
Mission work and Christian organisations
Christian mission historically combined spiritual evangelism with practical service—building schools, hospitals and infrastructure alongside preaching. Modern mission continues both emphases but debates their appropriate balance.
Christian Aid represents organisations prioritising the social gospel. Founded in 1945, Christian Aid works in over 40 countries addressing poverty, injustice and emergency relief. Their approach focuses on practical support—providing clean water, healthcare, education and disaster response—regardless of recipients' religious beliefs. This reflects Jesus' teaching about serving "the least of these" (Matthew 25:40) and demonstrates Christian love through action.
Tearfund similarly combines development work with faith-sharing, partnering with local churches in developing nations. They argue effective mission addresses both physical and spiritual needs, following Jesus' example of healing and teaching together.
Mission aviation organisations like Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) provide transport to remote areas where medical supplies, personnel and Christian workers cannot otherwise reach. This demonstrates how mission adapts to practical challenges while maintaining its evangelistic purpose.
Street Pastors operate in UK towns and cities, offering practical help and a Christian presence on weekend nights. Founded in 2003, this initiative demonstrates mission within secular Western contexts, not just overseas work.
The worldwide Church and denominational diversity
Christianity exists globally with approximately 2.4 billion adherents across diverse cultures and denominations. Understanding this diversity matters for WJEC GCSE examinations.
The Catholic Church maintains the largest unified structure with the Pope providing central leadership. Catholic mission emphasises sacraments, tradition and the Church's authority. Organisations like Missionaries of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa) exemplify Catholic mission combining practical care with spiritual ministry.
Protestant denominations show greater diversity in missionary approaches. Evangelical Protestants typically emphasise personal conversion and biblical authority. Groups like OM International or YWAM (Youth With A Mission) focus on evangelism and short-term mission trips for young people.
Orthodox Christianity, strongest in Eastern Europe and Russia, has historically emphasised preserving tradition and liturgy over active evangelism, though this has changed with diaspora communities establishing churches worldwide.
Pentecostal and Charismatic movements represent the fastest-growing expressions of Christianity globally, especially in Africa, Latin America and Asia. These emphasise direct spiritual experiences, healing and prophecy alongside evangelism.
Ecumenism and Christian unity
Ecumenism addresses divisions within Christianity, promoting cooperation between denominations. The World Council of Churches (founded 1948) brings together Protestant, Orthodox and other churches (though not Catholics officially) for dialogue and collaborative mission.
Arguments supporting ecumenism:
- Jesus prayed for unity among his followers (John 17:21)
- Division weakens Christian witness and confuses non-believers
- Shared mission work achieves more than competing denominations
- Focus on essential beliefs rather than secondary differences
Arguments questioning ecumenism:
- Theological differences matter and shouldn't be minimised
- Unity without truth compromises the Gospel message
- Denominations reflect genuine convictions, not just stubbornness
- Some fear ecumenism leads to relativism or losing distinctive identity
Challenges and controversies in modern mission
Cultural sensitivity poses significant challenges. Historical mission sometimes destroyed indigenous cultures or partnered with colonialism, imposing European culture alongside Christianity. Modern missionaries debate contextualisation—expressing Christianity within local cultures—versus maintaining doctrinal purity.
Interfaith relations create tension between evangelism and respect for other religions. Some Christians prioritise dialogue and cooperation with other faiths over conversion attempts. Others maintain evangelism remains essential because Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6) and salvation comes only through him.
Persecution affects Christians in many countries. Organisations like Open Doors support persecuted Christians and document restrictions on religious freedom. This raises questions about whether mission should continue where it endangers local believers or whether suffering validates authentic faith.
Short-term mission trips attract criticism for being more beneficial to Western participants than recipients. Critics argue they can create dependency, waste resources on travel rather than direct aid, and promote "saviour complexes." Defenders maintain they raise awareness, provide necessary skills, and encourage long-term missionary vocations.
Worked examples
Example 1: Four-mark "explain" question
Question: Explain Christian beliefs about the importance of evangelism. [4 marks]
Model answer:
Christians believe evangelism is important because Jesus commanded his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). This direct instruction from Jesus makes evangelism a central duty for believers.
Additionally, Christians believe that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for salvation. Since they believe eternal life comes through Jesus, evangelism becomes an act of love—sharing the most important truth with others so they too can be saved. Christians want others to experience the relationship with God they have found.
Examiner comment: This answer gains full marks by providing two developed explanations with biblical reference and theological reasoning. Each paragraph explains why evangelism matters, not just what it is.
Example 2: Five-mark "explain" question with reference
Question: Explain how Christian organisations carry out mission work. Refer to Christian teaching in your answer. [5 marks]
Model answer:
Christian organisations carry out mission work by combining practical service with spreading the Gospel. Christian Aid, for example, works in developing countries providing clean water, healthcare and education to people regardless of their religion. This demonstrates Jesus' teaching to love your neighbour (Mark 12:31) and his example of healing and helping those in need.
Other organisations like Mission Aviation Fellowship provide transport to remote areas, enabling both medical supplies and Christian workers to reach isolated communities. This shows mission adapting to practical challenges while maintaining the goal of sharing faith.
Some churches organise short-term mission trips where members travel overseas to help with building projects or run children's programmes, simultaneously serving communities and sharing Christian beliefs. This follows the example of Paul's missionary journeys in Acts, travelling to spread the Gospel.
Examiner comment: This answer references specific organisations, explains their methods, and connects activities to Christian teachings. Multiple examples demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Five marks awarded.
Example 3: Fifteen-mark evaluation question
Question: "Christians should focus on helping people practically rather than trying to convert them." Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. [15 marks including 3 marks for SPaG]
Model answer structure:
Arguments agreeing:
- Jesus taught about helping "the least of these" (Matthew 25:40) and emphasised practical compassion—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked
- Forced evangelism can damage Christianity's reputation; practical help demonstrates Christian love without pressure
- People's immediate needs for food, water and healthcare are more urgent than religious conversion
- Christian Aid and other organisations argue effective mission serves all people regardless of religion, following Jesus' example of healing without demanding faith first
Arguments disagreeing:
- The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) explicitly commands making disciples, not just humanitarian work
- Christians believe eternal salvation matters more than temporary physical comfort; evangelism addresses the most important human need
- Jesus himself combined healing with teaching and never separated physical and spiritual ministry
- True Christian love means sharing the truth about Jesus, not withholding the Gospel message
Conclusion: Many Christians would argue for combining both approaches, believing genuine mission includes addressing physical and spiritual needs together. However, different denominations emphasise these aspects differently—evangelicals prioritising conversion while mainstream Protestant groups often emphasise social justice alongside faith-sharing. Both views ultimately stem from different interpretations of Christian responsibility and Jesus' example.
Examiner comment: A Level 5/6 answer demonstrates thorough evaluation of multiple viewpoints, uses religious terminology accurately, integrates Christian teachings effectively, and reaches a reasoned conclusion. This structure achieves those requirements.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Confusing mission and evangelism as identical terms. Correction: Mission is the broader concept of the Church's overall calling to serve and share faith; evangelism specifically means actively converting others to Christianity. Mission can include evangelism but also encompasses humanitarian work, education and community development.
Mistake: Describing mission work only as historical activity by Western missionaries to Africa or Asia. Correction: Modern mission operates globally in all directions, including reverse mission where African or Asian Christians evangelise in Europe. Street Pastors in the UK demonstrates mission within Western secular contexts.
Mistake: Claiming all Christians agree on evangelism approaches or that interfaith dialogue contradicts evangelism. Correction: Significant denominational differences exist—evangelical Protestants emphasise verbal conversion, while Catholic and mainstream Protestant traditions often stress dialogue and practical service. Explain these different perspectives rather than presenting one view as universal.
Mistake: Writing about mission without specific examples or organisations. Correction: WJEC mark schemes reward specific knowledge. Always name organisations like Christian Aid, Tearfund, Open Doors or MAF, and reference biblical passages like the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) or Acts 1:8.
Mistake: Failing to evaluate in discussion questions, only describing Christian practices. Correction: For 15-mark questions, you must present contrasting viewpoints with reasons, not just explain what Christians do. Use phrases like "Some Christians believe... because... However, others argue... since..." to structure balanced arguments.
Mistake: Ignoring contemporary challenges like cultural sensitivity or short-term mission criticism. Correction: Examiners want evidence you understand modern contexts and controversies, not just historical facts. Discussing debates about colonialism's legacy or effectiveness of mission trips demonstrates higher-level thinking.
Exam technique for mission, evangelism and the worldwide Church
Command word recognition:
- "Explain" questions (4-5 marks) require developed points with reasons why, not just descriptions. Connect Christian practices to beliefs and biblical teachings.
- "Discuss" or "evaluate" questions (15 marks) demand multiple perspectives with religious reasoning, not personal opinions. Structure arguments clearly with "Some Christians believe... because..." and counter with "However, others argue..."
Biblical references strengthen answers:
Always reference specific biblical passages when explaining why Christians practice mission or evangelism—Matthew 28:19-20 (Great Commission), Acts 1:8 (witnesses to the ends of the earth), John 13:35 (known by love), Mark 16:15 (preach the gospel to all creation). Examiners reward precise scriptural knowledge rather than vague claims about "the Bible says."
Named examples demonstrate knowledge:
Rather than writing "Christian organisations help poor countries," specify "Christian Aid provides clean water and disaster relief in over 40 countries" or "Street Pastors offer practical support in UK cities on weekend nights." Concrete examples distinguish strong answers from weak generalisations.
Balance practical and theological understanding:
Top-level answers explain what Christians do (practical mission activities), why they do it (biblical commands and theological beliefs), and how they justify or debate different approaches (evaluation of effectiveness and methods). Weaker answers only describe activities without theological depth.
Quick revision summary
Christians engage in mission and evangelism following Jesus' Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Evangelism methods include personal testimony, mass campaigns, digital outreach and lifestyle witness. Organisations like Christian Aid focus on practical social gospel work while others emphasise conversion. The worldwide Church includes diverse denominations—Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Pentecostal—with varying mission approaches. Ecumenism promotes Christian unity despite denominational differences. Contemporary challenges include cultural sensitivity, interfaith relations, persecution, and debates about short-term mission effectiveness. Understanding both practical methods and theological motivations is essential for exam success.