So Much Yet to Do
God's people have been spreading the gospel for over 2,000 years yet the majority of the world doesn't know about what Jesus did for them on the cross.
I have no desire to get caught up in a debate or fight over words. But something’s not right. Jesus sent His church to take the Gospel to the world over 2,000 years ago. Yet here we are in 2024, and nearly 70% of the world doesn’t claim the name of Christ, and probably at least 50% have not heard the truth. We fail to reach out to the great multitudes that sit in darkness. They could live on another planet.
Our approach has been too slow. We’ve gone to different nations, put up crosses as symbols, tried to convert entire nations, and hoped to bring entire empires to Christ. But while we’ve been doing all that, vast parts of the world have stayed in darkness.
It’s time for a change. We can’t keep doing things the same way while millions of people still haven’t heard about the Gospel. Our job is clear, and it’s crucial. We have to spread the message of Jesus everywhere, making sure no one misses out on His love and grace.
Let's consider together some steps that we must take.
1. Increase Awareness
The church does not know how much is yet to be done. Does your church have an annual mission’s conference? Does your church invite missionaries to present their ministry and the need around the world on a regular basis. Once a month is definitely not too much.
Do you as an individual subscribe to missionary prayer letters to stay in touch and get a feel for all that is needed around the world.
How many missionaries do you personally know? Have you ever visited a mission field outside the United States?
2. Mobilize Resources
Allocate sufficient funds and personnel to support missionary efforts in reaching unreached regions.
Giving to support missionaries and missionary work should be a large part of our church budget. You, personally, should be giving a considerable amount. If God didn’t call us to go then we should be helping those that he did call.
I aways thought that this verse really brought the going or the giving home. It is obviously written about building the temple and not about missionaries but it is definitely food for thought as I live in the comfort and security of my country and others go where you might never be willing to go.
3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:3–4.
3. Empower Local Leaders
Train indigenous leaders and equip them to effectively spread the Gospel within their communities. Missionaries sent out from the United States are just one part of the puzzle. There are so many local leaders that are doing the job. You can make a difference by getting behind them. Help them with big financial projects. Buying land, building a church building, and many other major projects are more than they are able to handle without a very long time of great sacrifice. You could make a difference almost immediately.
There are good men that are doing exactly this type of ministry. You can connect with them and through them learn to help national leaders directly. Check out Taking the Light Ministries led by my friend Robert Canfield. They are making a difference and you can get in the very middle of it.
4. Use Technology
Leverage modern communication tools and platforms to reach remote areas and marginalized populations. The world is inter connected like never before. We have social media, web pages, videos, and so much more. A great ministry that is trying to reach the world using technology is Lighthouse Global Studios where my friend Charles Blackstock is the pastor. Check out what they are doing and get involved.
5. Foster Collaboration
Partner with churches, organizations, and individuals committed to global evangelism to maximize impact and resources. We can work together. What one can’t do alone the body can do together. Help spread the news through all your social media. Connect your friends with your friends. If you know a missionary and their needs then spread the word.
6. Develop Strategic Plans
Create comprehensive strategies tailored to specific regions and demographics to ensure targeted outreach. This is something that happens way too seldom. Each group may talk about what they are planning but it is like we are all competing instead of cooperating. I do not know how to change this but it is one of my major prayers.
7. Prioritize Prayer
Encourage fervent prayer for the unreached, believing in the power of divine intervention to open doors and hearts. We have the privilege of talking to God. God hears and answers prayer. You probably say that you can’t give but at least you can pray. That is never the correct attitude. Your praying and touching God will do more than anything else you could ever do.
The Apostle Paul felt the need to have his folks pray for him. If Paul felt he needed people to pray for him, how much more important would it be for each of us to enlist others to pray for us.
Brethren, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
2 Corinthians 1:11
As you can see from the verse above Paul was not asking lightly for prayer. He felt that the prayers of God’s people definitely “helped”. He felt that they became an actual part of his ministry. Your prayers do make a difference when you pray for your missionary or your pastor. If you will pray then we will be working “together” in the ministry.
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. Isaiah 45:11
In this verse we see that God invites us to put Him into motion. There is so much that God wants to do that He is not doing because we are not involved. He has not only invited us to pray but has commanded us to tell Him what to do. We cannot actually tell God what to do if it is not already His will but if we will, but look at it and we will notice that God oftentimes limits Himself due to our lack of prayer and faith.
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2
Why do we not have what we need? Why do we not have even what God wants us to have? I am convinced that the reason we so often are stumbling along in our lives and ministries is because we have failed to ask God!
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. I John 3:22
Prayer has to do with us doing what He wants us to do. We can’t expect God to just be a religious all powerful genie that we can command but rather God is looking for some folks who what to obey Him, to do those things that are pleasing in His sight, and then we will receive whatsoever we ask. That is a very powerful promise.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. I John 5:14-15
The reason that we will get whatsoever we ask is that we are obeying Him and doing what is pleasing in His sight. This causes us to ask what we know that He wants us to ask and what we know that He wants us to do. Our God wants us to be involved. He wants us to ask. Prayer is very important in our lives and ministries. We must get involved asking God to move and work in His vineyard.
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:30-33
8. Adapt and Innovate
Stay adaptable and open to new methods and approaches in spreading the Gospel, considering cultural sensitivities and changing contexts. Some of the greatest advances in mission work have come because of innovation. Transworld Radio and Voice of the Andes transformed the world by sending the gospel over shortwave to the entire world. Look how God has used the Jesus film. There is much to be done we just have to pray and think about new opportunities.
9. Evaluate Progress
Regularly assess the effectiveness of outreach efforts and adjust strategies accordingly to optimize results. On a regular basis we need to stop and take inventory. Are the missionaries and mission works we support working diligently? Is there something that we need to change? It is easy to become complacent with our current status and never move forward.
10. Cultivate Discipleship
Focus not only on initial conversions but also on nurturing and discipling new believers to grow in their faith and become active participants in spreading the Gospel themselves. Let’s get involved in training others. So much to be done training the next generation. Too many of us will die off and no one will be there to continue the work.
I invite you to watch the Missionary Stories videos on YouTube. Subscribe to my channel and give a like if you enjoy them.