When I first encountered Christopher Wright’s The Mission of God’s People, it felt like revisiting a thread that has been woven through my life for decades. Wright’s vision of God’s mission as the unifying purpose for His people resonates deeply with my journey of faith—a journey that began in the most unlikely of places.

In 2003, I met Jesus in a Broward County jail cell. What many might not know is that during my incarceration, I wasn’t just isolated with my thoughts and a Bible. I was also part of a faith community—a church, raw and unfiltered, where nothing superficial could survive. Worship in that context wasn’t about performance; it was about survival, hope, and encountering the real and living God. That experience shaped me profoundly and still informs how I think about mission, the church, and my role as a pastor and missional leader today.

Reading Wright’s work reminded me of those formative years and challenged me anew to consider what it means to be part of a community of people sent into the world for God’s purposes.

Mission: From a Prison Church to a Global Calling

One of Wright’s central arguments is that mission is the calling of all God’s people—not just a task for pastors, missionaries, or “professional Christians.” That truth was evident in the prison church community where I first encountered faith. Everyone who walked into that makeshift chapel brought their brokenness and desperation, but they also brought a hunger for the truth. In that raw space, I learned that mission doesn’t wait for perfect people in perfect circumstances. It happens in the midst of our mess, as we point to the God who is restoring us.

Now, 21 years later, I find myself on the other side of that journey as a church planter, outreach pastor, and missional catalyst. But Wright’s reminder that mission belongs to all God’s people challenges me to ensure that I don’t unintentionally professionalize mission in my ministry. Whether it’s in a prison cell, a neighborhood, or a global context, the call is the same: to live as witnesses to the God who saves.

Scripture as a Missional Story

Wright’s insistence that the entire Bible tells the story of God’s mission resonated deeply, especially as someone whose first encounters with Scripture were in the context of survival and transformation. During my incarceration, I remember pouring over the Bible, desperate for meaning and hope. What struck me then, and what Wright highlights so beautifully, is that the God of the Bible isn’t just calling individuals to salvation—He’s calling them into His larger story of redemption for the whole world.

This understanding transformed the way I viewed my own life. My salvation wasn’t just about being forgiven or starting over—it was about joining a movement that began with God’s covenant with Abraham and finds its fulfillment in Christ. Wright’s exploration of how Israel’s calling to be a “light to the nations” connects to the church’s mission today helped me articulate what I’ve often felt intuitively: God’s mission isn’t just a theme in the Bible—it’s the very heartbeat of Scripture.

The Church: Raw and Authentic in Mission

One of the most convicting parts of Wright’s work is his critique of how churches can become inward-focused, concerned with maintenance rather than mission. This stood in stark contrast to my early experience of church in prison. There, authenticity wasn’t optional. There were no programs, no polished sermons, no pretense. What we had was raw worship, desperate prayer, and a shared longing to experience the God who transforms.

As I read Wright’s vision of the church as a missional community, I was reminded of the importance of authenticity in mission. The church is at its best when it’s honest about its brokenness and fully reliant on God’s power. That’s the kind of church I long to cultivate as a leader—not one focused on appearances or institutional success, but one committed to living out God’s mission in real, tangible ways.

Mission as Everyday Faithfulness

Wright’s emphasis on mission as a whole-life calling also hit home for me. Too often, mission is framed as something “extra” we add to our lives—something for special trips or special people. But Wright challenges that notion, showing how God’s mission encompasses every aspect of life. This perspective reminded me of those early days in prison, where faith wasn’t something compartmentalized. It permeated every moment, from shared meals to late-night conversations about hope and redemption.

As a pastor, I’ve tried to carry that same spirit into my ministry. Whether equipping believers to live missionally in their workplaces or encouraging families to open their homes in hospitality, the mission of God’s people is about more than church programs. It’s about seeing every aspect of life as an opportunity to embody God’s love and truth.

A Renewed Vision for the Church’s Purpose

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Wright’s work is his vision for the church as a community sent into the world to reflect God’s character and purposes. This vision isn’t new to me—it’s been at the heart of my ministry since I first walked into Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale as a new believer. But Wright’s writing gave me fresh language and clarity to articulate why this matters so much.

The church isn’t just a gathering place; it’s a sending community. Whether it’s in the context of a mega-church like Calvary Chapel, the outreach-focused ministry of Christian Life Center, or the intimate authenticity of a prison chapel, the church is called to be a beacon of hope and a sign of God’s kingdom. Wright reminded me that this calling is not about perfection but about faithfulness to the God who sends.

Conclusion: Living as God’s Sent People

Christopher Wright’s The Mission of God’s People is more than a theological treatise—it’s a manifesto for living out the calling God has placed on His people. For me, it was a reminder of the journey God has taken me on, from encountering Him in a raw, unfiltered prison church to leading others into the joy and purpose of mission.

Wright challenges us to see mission not as something we do but as who we are—people sent by God to be a light in the darkness. Whether you’re new to faith or have walked this road for decades, his book will inspire you to step more fully into God’s redemptive work.

What does mission look like in your life? How can we, as God’s people, embody His purposes in our everyday contexts? I’d love to hear your reflections.