Reverse Mission and the Reawakening of the West

For generations, the global missionary movement followed a familiar path. From the historic centers of Christianity in Europe and North America, missionaries crossed oceans to proclaim the Gospel in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This movement shaped the modern Church and carried the message of Christ to the ends of the earth.

But history is not static—and neither is the mission of God.

Today, we are witnessing a profound shift. What was once considered the “mission field” has become a vibrant sending force. The Church in the Global South is not only growing—it is maturing, mobilizing, and stepping into a renewed sense of calling. And in a surprising turn, the nations that once sent missionaries are now in need of being reached again.

This is the reality of Reverse Mission.

A New Missionary Moment

Across parts of Europe and North America, the Church is experiencing decline—marked by secularization, cultural shifts, and a loss of spiritual vitality. Historic cathedrals stand as reminders of a rich past, yet many communities around them remain spiritually unengaged.

At the same time, the Gospel is flourishing in places like Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, and beyond. Churches are multiplying. Prayer movements are rising. Missionaries are being sent.

This is not coincidence. It is providence.

Reverse Mission is not merely a strategy—it is a participation in God’s redemptive movement across the nations. It reminds us that the Gospel was never meant to flow in only one direction. The Great Commission has always been global, mutual, and dynamic.

From Hierarchy to Partnership

One of the most important aspects of Reverse Mission is the shift from hierarchy to partnership.

The old paradigm often carried assumptions—of one side teaching and the other receiving. But today, the global Church is rediscovering something deeply biblical: we belong to one body.

Mission is no longer “from the West to the rest,” but from everywhere to everywhere.

Churches in the Global South bring spiritual vitality, dependence on prayer, and a boldness in evangelism. Churches in North America and Europe bring theological resources, infrastructure, and historical depth. Together, they reflect the fullness of the Body of Christ.

This is not about replacing one center with another. It is about unity in diversity.

A Macedonian Call Revisited

In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him to come and help. That moment redirected the mission of the early Church toward Europe.

Today, in a remarkable parallel, there is a new “Macedonian call”—but this time, the cry is coming from the North.

It is heard in the growing spiritual hunger across post-Christian societies. It is seen in the search for meaning among younger generations. It is felt in the quiet emptiness of communities that have lost connection with the Gospel.

The call is clear: come and help.

And the global Church is responding.

Europe: A Mission Field Once Again

For North American Christians, this moment carries both responsibility and opportunity.

Europe is not just a historical landmark of Christianity—it is a present-day mission field. The very continent that once sent missionaries across the Atlantic now stands in need of renewal.

There is something deeply redemptive about this moment.

They brought the Gospel to us. Now, together with brothers and sisters from every nation, we have the privilege of bringing the Gospel back.

Not as an act of nostalgia—but as a movement of revival.

A Sign of What God Is Doing

This October 16–17, a tangible expression of this movement will take place in Mantova.

The Baptist Churches of New England, in partnership with Faculdade Batista Pioneira, will host a Reverse Mission Conference—bringing together leaders, pastors, and missionaries with a shared vision for Europe.

This is more than an event. It is a sign.

A sign that God is stirring His Church across continents.
A sign that collaboration is replacing isolation.
A sign that the mission is alive.

The Gospel Without Borders

Reverse Mission challenges our assumptions and expands our vision.

It reminds us that no region has ownership over the Gospel. That no culture has a monopoly on mission. That the Kingdom of God is advancing through unexpected people and unexpected places.

The mission field is everywhere.

And today, the “South” is helping reignite the “North.”

This is not the end of the story—it is a new chapter.

A chapter where the global Church moves together.
Where North and South serve side by side.
Where Europe and North America are not just senders—but receivers once again.

And in all of this, one truth remains unshaken:

God is at work among the nations.

Lierte Soares Junior is a Brazilian-American pastor, missionary, and educator serving in New England. As a "reverse missionary," he was sent from Brazil to New England to help revitalize churches. He serves as the president of the Baptist Churches of New England. 

Soares holds a law degree from Faculdade de Direito Vale do Rio Doce, a business degree, an education degree plus a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Faculdade de Teologia Integrada in Brazil.  He also holds a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Missouri and a Master of Theological Studies with a concentration in cross cultural missions from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Missions and Evangelism from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Lierte Soares's extensive educational background in theology, missions, and evangelism directly informs and empowers his ministry as a "reverse missionary" in New England. His academic path, spanning degrees from both Brazil and the United States, has equipped him with a nuanced understanding of cross-cultural ministry, church planting, and leadership in diverse contexts.