While modern day missionaries and evangelists do not undergo the same circumstances of our Christian forbears, I can't help but admire how missionaries from the 1800s and earlier ministered to their congregants and listeners in a manner similar to the early apostles and Jesus himself. The manner in which the Apostles of Christ's early ministry can be found in the following scriptures:
Matthew 10, Luke 5 and 6
Matthew 10:1, 5-24 and Luke 5:2-11 and chapter 6 highlight major points of how Christ and His disciples went about ministering:
1. They were called by Christ.
2. They followed after Christ forsaking worldly pursuits.
3. Jesus called them to minister in His name and on His behalf.
4. They ministered by preaching, healing, cleansing, casting out devils, etc.
5. They were to take no "gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses."
6. They were also to take no "scrip..., neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves"
The principle behind only the clothes they wore and taking no extra funds or payment for their ministry was because "the workman is worthy of his meat," (Matthew 10:10). While modern day missionaries are expected to have more than one coat and shoes, they still go about with no pay for their work and only needing the essentials needed in ministering in the name of Christ. (Observe Latter-day Saint missionaries as an example of these circumstances). It is admirable and humbling how missionaries still minister in a manner outlined by Christ. Looking at Latter-day Saint missionaries from the 1800s though, the following from the Doctrine and Covenants reflect a means similar to Christ's apostles:
D&C 24:18 "And thou shalt take no apurse nor scrip, neither staves, neither two coats, for the church shall give unto thee in the very hour what thou needest for food and for raiment, and for shoes and for money, and for scrip.
19: "For thou art called to aprune my vineyard with a mighty pruning, yea, even for the last time; yea, and also all those whom thou hast bordained, and they shall do even according to this pattern. Amen."
D&C 84: 78 "For I suffered them not to have apurse or scrip, neither two coats."
79: "Behold, I asend you out to bprove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his chire."
Jesus wants His disciples and followers to minister to people who need the Gospel, which is basically all of mankind (Luke 5:10-11). The people Christ ministered to are found all over the four gospels of the New Testament:
1. The sick (Matthew 10, Luke 5, Luke 8, Mark 2)
2. City folk (Matthew 11)
3. The Gentiles (Matthew 15)
4. People who sin (Luke 7, Mark 2)
5. People possessed of devils (Luke 8, Mark 5)
In reading and pondering over the manner Christ had his missionaries and apostles preach His word and minister, it is inspiring to the modern day Christian. It makes one want to minister even if not ordained or set apart as a missionary. There are many ways a Christian can minister in the name of Christ nowadays. For example, disciples of Christ can still preach, forsake worldly pursuits outside of essentials, reach out to the sick and needy, minister to the sinner, and so on.
