“Just over three years ago, the world reeled from the news of a young man’s death on the shores of an isolated (and largely unknown) island in the Bay of Bengal. Suddenly, a nameless, faceless twentysomething from America confronted every home and major news outlet with the urgency of what Christians have termed the “Great Commission” since Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives. The Church in the West struggled to provide answers. It was a stark and humbling confrontation, but we have seen this kind of pressing witness in the past. It bore glorious, beautiful, eternal fruit then; I have every confidence it will again now.
John Allen Chau’s witness of a martyr’s heart (in life and in death) perhaps could not have met us at a better time. We are on the trailing tail of a mighty moment in missions history, and we could certainly use urgency’s reminder: the people of Jesus — the ones ISIS nicknamed “the people of the Cross” — have been entrusted with a holy task: preach Christ to everyone everywhere (Matthew 24:14; 28:19–20; Acts 1:8). Yet even now, with nearly half the world still living in profound gospel poverty, we are quite far from finishing our mission. This is not the first time a young adult with a profound burden for gospel proclamation and the prioritization of unreached people groups passed into glory with timing that seemed premature. This is not the first loss of life leaving us grappling. John Chau was not the first young man to stare down the barrel of his own mortality with grief, wondering who might take his place when he died.” ( - Desiring God Are there any more “John Chau’s” out there? Will you please step forward and be counted?
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Randy, Pat, and Ryan introduced GPHD and GPHC to 32 missionary church planters and pastors in Lomé, Togo. It would be hard to miss the excitement of these students. They were there only a few days but realized in just three days that God was working to transform their hearts to be like the Bereans. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Would that the Holy Spirit develop this attitude in more of the Church. What would be the result? “Many of them therefore believed” (17:12). It has always been my desire to impact the body of Christ around the world (more particularly the Western Church) with a deeper passion for reaching the “unreached.” Notice that I did not use the term “lost” or “heathen.” Why or what is the difference?
The “lost” or “heathen” are terms that are often used in referring to those who are unsaved. In many cases, these are persons who heard the gospel in some form, but the Spirit has not worked in them for “new birth” (John 3:3-8) and “regeneration” (Titus 3:4-5). We must continue to preach the gospel to them in the hopes that God will work. The point for us with those who have heard the gospel is continual prayer and a clear witness. Back to my point on the “unreached.” These are persons who have never heard the gospel in any form or been exposed to any genuine Christian witness. Since we have been commanded to “make disciples of all nations (ethne)”, should they be our major mission focus? Why is it that only 1% of all funds given for missions are given for reaching the unreached? After 25 years of preaching on the streets of Oakland and San Francisco and seeing little fruit, I now see through this ministry an amazing work of God that is preparing indigenous believers to carry the gospel to those nations at “the end of the earth.” Numbers do not limit God. He is only seeking hearts that are fully devoted to His purpose. As Randy, Ryan and Pat are training in Togo and Benin, Africa, I am thinking of God’s heart and purpose for the nations. He intends that the Church grow to understand His heart. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”” (Acts 1:8).
Before the Church was birthed in Acts 2, God was thinking about all nations. He showed His heart to Abraham when God promised, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). The word “families” means “people, kingdom, tribe, clan, or group.” Whatever type of people grouping you can think of, none will be left out. John saw in his vision, on the island of Patmos, a proof of these promises. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). You and I will stand shoulder to shoulder in worship with every people group around the world. Do we have this plan of God in our hearts now? “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”” (Psalm 46:10). THIS CHANGES PRIORITIES! When is it appropriate to serve others and when is it appropriate to not serve and just listen. Some of the recent opportunities in S. E. Asia and Africa remind us that there are hungry hearts for God’s Word, and that eclipses everything else.
We often give Martha in Luke 10:38-41, a critical review because of her preoccupation with serving. Six times in the New Testament we are exhorted to show hospitality. So, Martha was not necessarily in the wrong for what she was doing. The difference was the presence of Jesus and “His teaching.” Mary understood that this opportunity was rare which meant for her that sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing His words was far more important than food. As I think of persons God allows us to interact with through the Scriptures in various places around the world, their desire for truth changes or priorities. Even last night a young lady came to our Wednesday night Bible study on 1 John 4 and wanted to know how she could be saved. Other plans for the study were set aside so a soul that is hungry for God’s truth be given a front row seat and receive her Savior. What would you set aside to satisfy a thirst and hunger for God’s life-giving Word? “…be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful me who be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2) This familiar verse captures the essence of this last trip. Through prayer, God broke through many obstacles in Chad, and I was reminded that great leaders, like Moise (Moses) in Cameroon & Joshua from Nigeria, work in very hard places. God’s work in any nation is a labor of love, born in response to Christ’s love for us, and carried on through the strength of His grace. Stephen & Victoria, the key leaders in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, celebrate their completion of God’s Plan for His Church. One key leader from Fada brought two of his young leaders who had already completed the work. When we see leaders multiplying before graduation, we know this work will continue long after we are gone. Please keep these key leaders in your prayers. They, along with Emmanuel from Fada led 37 others to finish the manual. What a joy to see 2 Timothy 2:2 fulfilled. God is working in each place we went so let us continue to pray is that these will take the gospel to the unreached peoples of the 10/40 Window. Thank you for going with me in spirit and prayer! When I spoke to Tim this evening (morning in Laos), he gave me a few more details about the introduction of God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD) in Lao and Vietnamese in Laos. There are eight Lao speaking believers and some of them cannot read or write. They have come from villages up in the mountains and have never had the opportunity to devote time to the study of God’s Word. Our translator is using the Lao Bible (which some did not have before this week) as a tool to start them in reading and writing. They are so excited and would probably learn 24/7 if they were allowed. The Vietnamese are learning with just as much enthusiasm! These eighteen are discovering how valuable and rich the Word of God is as they have worked through God’s Plan for His Church (GPHC). In Tim’s words he said, “I have never seen anything like this.” Your prayers and support have allowed us to go to places like this and watch the Spirit of God ignite a fresh movement in these hearts. Only God knows what will result from this week. Tim traveled to Laos yesterday and began introducing God’s Plan for His Disciples (GPHD) in Lao. Why is this a double blessing? Because there are Vietnamese speaking believers in Laos and our partner from Vietnam joined Tim so he could train those who speak Vietnamese in the evening while Tim introduces GPHD during the day to those who speak Lao. Not only that, one of the Christians there owns a building and allowed our team to use one of the floors for training and accommodations. Considering the general anti-Christian climate in this country, the way this event has turned out is a proof that God works “all this together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is also one of those “wide doors for effective work” that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 16:9. While we look for these doors to open, we also trust the Lord to show us which ones he wants us to enter. Pray for Tim and his partner during this week that God will use this event to further His work and add to His glory. “The fact is, as believers, it is not about us. It is not about my happiness, my joy, my wellbeing. It is about the glory of God and the kingdom of Christ. The only means of real joy and contentment is to make His glory the supreme objective in my life.” (Elisabeth Elliott)
“Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within His followers except the adoption of Christ’s purpose toward the world He came to redeem. Fame, pleasure, and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of His eternal plans.” (J. Campbell White)
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