World Missions in the Bible: Nothing Left but the Covers

TL;DR: Nina Gunter’s memorable statement—“If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers”—emphasizes that God’s mission is woven throughout Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible portrays God reaching out to redeem people from every nation. Christians are therefore called to move beyond missions awareness and participate through prayer, giving, sending, and going.

A Saying About World Evangelism That Should Stir Your Heart and Move You to Action

Scripture repeatedly expresses God’s desire that the good news of His justice, grace, and love reach all peoples.
World missions colors the whole sweep of Scripture. Thus, the statement “If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers” is more than hyperbole.
Participation in God’s mission is not merely an option; it is a scriptural calling for the entire Church.

Slogans to Awaken the Church

“If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers.” — attributed to Nina Gunter

Those are strong words attributed to Nina Gunter. If what she said—“nothing left but the covers”—is true, then participation in world missions is not merely one option among many good things for believers to do. It is a primary task for the Church.

However, we can also ask: Was Gunter overstating things simply to drive home a point? I know people who think the Bible would be just a little smaller if you took everything out of it that relates to world evangelism. In that vein, I envision an acquaintance or two pointing to random Bible verses and asking me, “What does this verse have to do with missions? Or how about this verse over here?”

Perhaps Gunter purposefully overstated things. However, I believe “nothing left but the covers” is more than hyperbole. Think of how world missions colors the whole sweep of Scripture. We often say the entire Bible is one story. Indeed, it is. The Bible is the story of God seeking to reclaim His lost creation from all over the earth. It is the story of the unfolding of John 3:16. It portrays God seeking the lost and sending His people to participate in that mission.

Gunter’s statement, “If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers,” clearly springs from the way the Bible recounts God’s “incredible rescue operation,” as Linda Seaman titled her book about the beginnings of Nazarene work in Martinique.

Nina Gunter was right. If we take missions out of the Bible, more than a verse here or there would be missing. Scripture repeatedly expresses God’s desire that the good news of His justice, grace, and love be proclaimed throughout the earth. If we take everything relevant to world evangelism out of the Bible, we will indeed be left holding little more than its covers.

One Nazarene Bible College student reflected:

“Practically, this means we must move from being ‘missions-aware’ to ‘missions-engaged.’” — Charles Hansen

Reflection Questions About the Importance of World Missions

Why can it be said that world missions colors the whole sweep of Scripture? What examples can you give to support this idea?
Do you agree with the statement “If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers”? Why or why not?
Can you think of any counterarguments people might raise in response to Gunter’s statement? If so, how would you respond to them?
If God desires that His justice, grace, and love be proclaimed throughout the earth, how should that affect our understanding of the Christian faith?
What are some practical ways churches and individuals can participate in world missions and fulfill this scriptural calling?

Afterword: World Missions Permeates the Entire Bible

Nina Gunter’s powerful statement, “If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers,” serves as a poignant reminder that God’s mission permeates the entire Bible. From Genesis to Revelation—from the Garden to the City—we read again and again of God’s desire that all nations hear of His justice, grace, and love. This truth should have far-reaching effects on the Church. Understanding God’s heart for global evangelism often results in a passionate commitment to participate in His incredible rescue operation. By praying, giving, sending, and going, churches and individuals can help spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.

— Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

More blog posts in the “Slogans That Awakened the Church” series

Who Was Nina Gunter?

Nina Gunter was an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene who, with her husband, co-pastored churches in Tennessee, Missouri, and South Carolina.
For 20 years, Nina Gunter served as global director of Nazarene Missions International, the world missions mobilization arm of local Nazarene churches.
In 2005, Nina Gunter was elected a general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene—the first woman elected to the denomination’s highest office. She served until 2009, when she was named general superintendent emerita. Read Nina Gunter’s official biography.