If you are old enough to remember pay phones, long-distance calling, and the birth of Google, you are likely ‘from the 1900s’ (not to be confused with the 1800s, which, in fact, my own Gen Alpha children have mixed up on more than one occasion).
Today, we live in a society that can connect people from all over the world with just a few clicks of a button, without our parents yelling at us for racking up the phone bill. We have translation apps that can help us communicate with people speaking or writing an entirely different language in real (albeit awkwardly slow) time. It is truly remarkable to consider!
Yet, we still read statistics that tell us roughly 43% of the world has never heard Jesus’ name.
Reaching the Unreached With The Gospel
More than half of the world’s population lives in an area known as the “10/40 Window”. It is a rectangle across North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia where the largest unreached people groups reside.
Further, the book we rely on in our faith, the Bible, isn’t yet translated in nearly half of the world’s languages. About 1.5 billion people worldwide lack a complete Bible in their first language, and 123 million have no part of Scripture in a language that speaks to them.
For those of us with English as a first language and dozens of Bible translations from which to pick (or argue over which is best), it is unfathomable to imagine not being able to read God’s Word in our mother tongue…at all.
Our Mission is Clear
Jesus was very clear in what he asks of his followers:
“Then he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’.” [Mark 16:15]
“Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled’.” [Luke 14:23]
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” [Matthew 28:19-20a]
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [Acts 1:8]
Communication Has Never Been Easier
When reading the Book of Acts and learning how the Church began, I started to wonder what the early Saints would think seeing the world today. The advancements that have come into our hands over the last 100 years largely connect people groups around the world – with transportation and communication being large focuses of technological advancements.
We use our cars to get us all over for our personal needs. We entertain ourselves with our devices. We send each other funny TikToks or maybe encouraging quotes and memes.
If we had a way to statistically analyze how much we have used all of this worldwide connection to fuel the spreading of the Gospel, what would our personal percentage be? 10% 5%? Maybe zero?
We cannot afford to be complacent. Francis Chan said something in a video that has stuck with me for years:
“If our sole purpose on this earth is to make disciples, I don’t want to get to Heaven without any disciples lined up with me!” -Francis Chan
Are We Really Making Disciples of All Nations?
We are still today called to spread the Truth of Jesus to all people, nations, and tongues. That directive didn’t stop with the canonization of Scripture. With tools connecting us to people all over the world, how will we use them to spread the Gospel?
It doesn’t even necessarily require us to travel to find people groups who need to know Jesus. Grace Church is based in Erie, Pennsylvania, one of many cities with a large population of immigrants and refugees. Families are learning English, navigating a new world and culture.
God didn’t stop with sending us out. He brought His people right to us in cities all over the United States.
What would it look like if seeds we planted in the hearts of our neighbors managed to make it across the world right from our backyards?
Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think we can put “Repent or Burn” signs in our yard and call it living on mission. We need to meet people where they are. We need to be approachable, open to conversations, and willing to listen to someone else’s beliefs if we want to proclaim our own AND have credibility.
It takes time and intentionality.
We see numerous examples both from Jesus’ ministry and the Apostles in Acts, spending days, weeks, months (and longer) with groups of people – living with them, building trust, and introducing the Good News.
Ordinary acts of service led people to Jesus, and it is still the same today. Perhaps you are being called to live somewhere else to make disciples. Maybe you’re called to reach the unreached right from your hometown. Either way, when we boldly obey, we will get to witness the power of the Holy Spirit transforming us and others.
We absolutely do not want to miss out on that.
If you are unsure where to start or how to be an effective disciple, I would encourage you to learn more about the 4 Dream Disciple Roles outlined and taught at Grace Church.
