Recently I was interviewed live by a church we partner
with in WA. They are hugely turned on for missions but some of the church
members needed to be educated about the validity of world missions. In the
interview I was asked, “Why should we
take care of someone across the world when we could be taking care of those
around us first?”
In my twenty seven years of career in world missions, I’ve
been asked this question many times. Today let me share with you what I told in
the interview.
Allow me start by agreeing that we must share the Gospel
locally no matter where we are. I believe, “The
light that shines farthest shines brightest at home.” Every Christian
should be involved in helping people in their everyday life.
The Bible teaches, when God looks at the human race, He doesn’t
think in countries. God loves the whole world. Jesus came to save the whole
world. He commanded us to preach the Gospel to the whole world. He said to
occupy the world and plough the whole field (world). It is scriptural to take
the love of Jesus to the world.
Justice is another reason Christian should be involved in
world missions. In the West, every person has access to the Gospel. We have
twenty four hours TV, radio, Internet and church in every corner. But the rest
of the world is not so blessed. There are millions who have never heard the
name of Jesus - once! They know about Coca Cola but not the name of Jesus. Foreign
lands are crying out for the Gospel and they’re ready to die for the Gospel. Why
should anybody hear the Gospel twice when others have not heard it once? It is
fair that everyone should have the opportunity once!
Last but not the least; we don’t have to sacrifice one or
the other. It’s not a matter of preference. Jesus said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NKJV). What Jesus is prescribing here is to
think global and act local. We have to reach our own backyard and at the same time be involved in reaching
the world.
I’m going back to Asia end of this month. We will train
leaders, empower believers and share Christ with those who have never heard His
name. Will you pray and partner with us? We will be honored to represent you on
the mission field. God bless you!
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