I used to think the church sent missionaries out to preach the gospel and make disciples in new areas. Now it seems clear that God himself sends us out.

• Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.– Acts 13:1-4

In this classic passage, Saul and Barnabas were “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. The church just released them. The Greek is apolýō (from 575 /apó, “away from” and 3089 /lýō, “to loose, release”) – properly, to let go; release (discharge), dismiss. This term implies the release (annulment) of an existing bond. 630 /apolýō (“to release”) is specifically used of divorcing a marital partner (Mt 1:19, 5:31,32, 19:7-9 – parallels at Mk 10:2-12; Lk 16:18).

This is consistent with the verses I could find in the New Testament on sending:

• “Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” – Mt 4:19
• Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers – Mt 9:38
• These twelve Jesus sent out – Mt 10:5
• I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. – Mt 10:16
• Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. – Mt 23:34
• you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you – Mt 23:37
• I will send my messenger ahead of you – Mk 1:2
• Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” – Mk 1:17
• that he might send them out to preach – Mk 3:14
• he began to send them out two by two – Mk 6:7
• I will send my messenger ahead of you – Lk 7:27
• he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God – Lk 9:2
• After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” – Lk 10:1-3
• God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles’ – Lk 11:49
• Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” – Lk 22:35
• There was a man sent from God whose name was John. – John 1:6
• I sent you to reap what you have not worked for – John 4:38
• no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. – John 13:16
• whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me – John 13:20
• I have sent them into the world. – John 17:18
• As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” – John 20:21
• Jesus… has sent me so that you may see again – Acts 9:17
• “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” – Acts 22:21
• I am sending you to them to open their eyes – Acts 26:17
• For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – 1 Co 1:17
• we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. – 2 Co 2:17
• Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father – Gal 1:1

When the church sends, it seems to be to follow up on the assignments God sent people out to do. Here are the verses I could find:

• When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John – Acts 8:14
• a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas – Acts 11:21-22
• Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas – Acts 15:22
• He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia — Acts 19:22
• I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus — 1 Co 4:17
• we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. – 2 Co 8:18
• In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. – 2 Co 8:22
• I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow. – 2 Co 9:3
• Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? – 2 Co 12:17
• I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. – Eph 6:22
• I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. — Philippians 2:19
• I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.  – Col 4:8
• We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith. — 1 Thessalonians 3:2

If God is the one sending out pioneer missionaries, then he is the one who will take care of them. And they need to hear from him if they’re going to go.