In the “Great Commission,” Jesus commanded His apostles to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20). Does this mean that every Christian must travel the world preaching the Gospel? While Jesus’ command clearly emphasizes the need for the Gospel to reach the entire world, the idea that every Christian must personally travel to distant parts of the world — or constantly move from place to place — to fulfill this command is a misunderstanding of God’s plan. While certain Christians, based on opportunity and ability, take the Gospel to other regions of the world, Scripture shows that God designed the church to have both those who go and those who stay.
The Great Commission’s Perpetual Nature
The Great Commission was first given to the apostles, who were tasked with taking the Gospel into all the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). Jesus’ instruction to teach others “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20) demonstrates that the mission would continue beyond the apostles themselves. By teaching new disciples to carry on the work, the spreading of the Gospel would not depend solely on the apostles’ efforts.
Paul emphasized this in his instructions to Timothy: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This principle shows that the Great Commission is ongoing, with each generation teaching the next. However, this continued work does not require every Christian to travel to foreign lands or to relocate constantly.
The Early Church Demonstrates That Not All Christians Traveled
The early church itself provides clear evidence that not all Christians were constantly traveling. While some, like the apostle Paul, traveled extensively, many Christians remained in their local communities to help the church grow and thrive.
In Acts 2:42-47, the Jerusalem church remained together, devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, and prayer. This stability enabled the church to grow in number and maturity. In Acts 9:31, the churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria “had peace and were edified.” These established congregations would not have existed without Christians remaining in those regions.
Paul’s greetings in Romans 16:3-5 include a reference to “the church that is in [Priscilla and Aquila’s] house.” Their ability to maintain a home congregation further shows that not all Christians were traveling constantly. Paul also greeted many individual Christians by name in Romans 16, demonstrating that he knew they still lived there and could address them as part of a stable congregation. This would not have been possible if all Christians were constantly on the move. Additionally, passages such as Hebrews 3:13 — “But exhort one another daily…” — imply consistent interaction and presence, something only possible when Christians are regularly assembling in the same location.
The Practical Ramifications of Every Christian Traveling
If all Christians were required to either travel far from home or live a life of constant movement, several essential elements of God’s design for the church would be compromised. Consider the following:
1. Local Congregations Would Be Undermined or Cease to Exist
The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the importance of strong local congregations. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in “every church” (Acts 14:23), and Paul and Jesus addressed individual congregations by name (e.g., 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1; Revelation 2–3). These established congregations required members who stayed in place to worship together, edify one another, and carry out organized works of service/benevolence. If all Christians were constantly on the move, there would be little opportunity for local congregations to thrive.
2. Elders Could Not Effectively Shepherd the Flock
The role of elders is vital in God’s design for the church. Paul charged the Ephesian elders to “shepherd the church of God…among which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). Peter instructed elders to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you” (1 Peter 5:2).
Elders are tasked with knowing their flock and watching out for their souls (Hebrews 13:17). Likewise, members are commanded to know those who are “over” them (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). This work requires stability and consistency — something incompatible with constant travel. If elders were always on the move, how could they perform their jobs? If members were always moving, how could elders do their jobs? God’s plan for the local church would completely fall apart. Elders could not develop meaningful relationships with their congregation or provide the spiritual oversight that God intended.
3. Accountability Would Be Lost
The Bible teaches that Christians are not only responsible for their personal faithfulness, but are also accountable to one another within the local congregation. James wrote, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another…” (James 5:16; cf. 5:19-20). Paul commanded the church in Galatia, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one…” (Galatians 6:1; cf. Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).
When Christians are rooted in a stable congregation, they can build relationships that produce spiritual transparency, correction, and encouragement. This kind of accountability is almost impossible when members are constantly moving from place to place. If elders, teachers, or fellow Christians cannot get to know a person over time, how can they help keep that soul on the narrow path? How could withdrawal of fellowship be effective if there was never a sense of true fellowship in the first place?
It has already been noted that elders must know who their members are and have an ongoing relationship with them. If Christians float from one place to another with no consistent oversight, they effectively remove themselves from the accountability God designed for the local church.
4. The Church’s Edification Would Suffer
The church is not only instructed to spread the Gospel but also to build up its members (Hebrews 3:13; 10:23-25). Paul emphasized this in Ephesians 4:11-16, where he described the roles of teachers, pastors (elders), and evangelists in strengthening the body of Christ. Without a stable membership contributing to teaching and encouragement, the church’s ability to edify itself would be severely hindered.
5. Financial Support for Evangelism Would Weaken
The New Testament reveals that some churches financially supported evangelists, enabling them to focus on their work. Paul commended the church at Philippi for supporting him during his travels: “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity” (Philippians 4:16). This stable support allowed Paul to continue his work without being burdened by constant financial struggles.
In First Corinthians 9:6-15 Paul affirmed this principle of making a living by preaching: “Have not we power to forbear working?… Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” For this system to work, stable congregations were essential — groups of Christians who consistently met, contributed financially, and were overseen by faithful leadership. Without such stability, traveling preachers would have faced unpredictable support, making it difficult for them to focus on their work.
While Paul occasionally supported himself through tentmaking (Acts 18:3; 20:34), this was not his ideal method. He expressed gratitude when stable congregations like the Philippians enabled him to focus more fully on his mission (2 Corinthians 11:8-9). Paul instructed Timothy that “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life…” (2 Timothy 2:4), reinforcing the idea that those dedicated to preaching have the right to be free to concentrate on their spiritual work without distraction. Without stable congregations and reliable leadership, such a focus would have been nearly impossible.
6. Extensive Travel Can Disrupt Family Stability
God has given parents a serious responsibility to train their children in His ways. Paul instructed fathers to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). This requires time, effort, and intentional teaching.
While some families thrive spiritually while living in a new area for an extended period — such as relocating to a foreign country for several years to do evangelistic work — this may not be feasible for many families. Additionally, if a family is constantly relocating, it can make life difficult, especially for children. Continually moving from place to place can disrupt routines, limit stability, and make it harder to provide the consistent structure that children often need. Sacrifices must often be made in the Lord’s service, but hopefully not at the expense of children’s welfare — a principle reflected in Jesus’ rebuke of those who neglected family duties under the pretense of religious devotion (cf. Matthew 15:3-8). Some families or individuals may also have special needs that prevent them from traveling.
For many families, a stable home environment in their native country is the best choice to ensure their children receive the upbringing they need. For others, establishing stability in a new region for an extended period may be a workable option. In either case, parents must carefully consider how best to fulfill their God-given role in raising faithful children.
A Balanced View of Soul-Winning
If Christians are not careful, we may begin thinking that souls on the other side of the world are more valuable than those living next door. However, all souls are equally precious to God, regardless of their location. If every Christian were expected to leave his home region to evangelize, we would be faced with an absurd scenario: Christians from other countries would need to come here, while we leave to go there. Such thinking is not only impractical — it disregards the value of the souls in our own communities. God’s plan is for Christians to shine as lights wherever they are (Philippians 2:15), not to abandon their local fields in pursuit of distant ones.
Even the apostle Paul did not always travel. He sometimes remained in one place for extended periods, such as eighteen months in Corinth (Acts 18:11) and three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). This shows that faithful evangelism can take different forms depending on opportunity and need — even for one of the most active evangelists in history.
Modern Tools for Spreading the Gospel
While the apostles and early Christians spread the Gospel through travel and written correspondence, Christians today have even more powerful tools at their disposal. The Internet—websites, online videos, video calls, social media, email, and digital publishing—has made it possible to teach and influence souls across the globe without ever leaving home. A faithful Christian with a strong online presence may reach more people in a week than a first-century Christian could reach in a year on foot. These tools are especially helpful now that the world population is estimated to be more than 30 times the size of the population in the first century A.D.
Technology can be an amazing tool for evangelism, but it also has its limits. One cannot be baptized through a computer, and involvement in a local congregation is inherently personal. Still, the modern Christian has more options than ever for spreading the Gospel effectively without extensive travel.
Conclusion
The Great Commission is a vital command to spread the Gospel throughout the world, but God never intended for every Christian to fulfill it in the same way. While some Christians travel and take the Gospel to other regions, others are needed to strengthen local congregations, support traveling evangelists, and teach within their own communities. This balance is essential to God’s design.
As Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 12, the body has many members with different roles and responsibilities. A Gospel preacher in a foreign country may be the “mouth,” but he may need the “feet” of a faithful congregation to send and support him. Rather than believing that every Christian must personally travel the world, we should embrace the opportunities and responsibilities available to us — whether that involves going or staying, each doing his part to strengthen the local church and support the spreading of the Gospel — knowing that all these efforts are vital to fulfilling the Great Commission.