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Question 6
The Martyrs Synod allegedly sent “apostolic teams of three” and, within two weeks of mandates against them, Augsburg sent “more than two dozen missionaries,” with most dying within three years; what does that level of willingness to be expendable suggest about their view of God’s worth, and how would that challenge the way we evaluate “wisdom,” “preparedness,” and “effectiveness” in missions today?
Another way to ask: What does their readiness to be sent quickly and die for the mission say about how valuable they thought God was? How does that challenge how we judge “wise,” “prepared,” and “effective” missions today?

Direct Answer Their willingness to be “expendable” suggests they believed God’s kingdom and Christ’s command were worth more than their lives, and that urgency outweighed personal safety. That challenges modern evaluation by forcing us to ask whether “wisdom” and “preparedness” have become excuses to avoid costly obedience.

Support from Transcript:

  • At the Martyrs Synod, “apostles were deliberately chosen…sent out in apostolic teams of three…for the sole purpose of evangelism and church planting.”
  • Urgency under persecution: within two weeks of mandates, Augsburg sent “more than two dozen missionaries…in under two weeks.”
  • Cost: “in less than three years, only two or three were left alive.”
  • Motivation: they believed time was short—“their missionary efforts would be of limited time. Jesus is coming back.”
  • Taylor openly wrestles with preparedness: a student asks “Were they prepared?” and Taylor admits “I don’t know…some things did go wrong,” but still says, “they still went and did it…It’s inspiring.”
  • Their “zeal…compensated” for lack of strategy, implying effectiveness was not measured primarily by safety or polish.
Discussion Follow-ups Where do we require guarantees before obedience (training level, budget, security)? How might we keep “preparedness” real without letting it replace faith and urgency?

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