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Because our Lord commissions us to do so. Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Proclaiming the Gospel and planting churches is the strategy to accomplish God’s redemptive purposes for the World. Many will say we need to take care of our own here in the states. That is true, however, we belong to a Global Family. Our family is not just here in the US, we need to be careful that we do not foster a narrow world view, our ministry must reach beyond our local borders. Our mission’s policy is strategic in ministering globally, that includes local, national, and international outreach.
There are 5.5 million full time Christian workers in the world. 75.9% work in a context among a large percentage of evangelical Christian population. 23.7% work in a context of greater than 2% evangelical Christians. .37% work among the unreached. There are 6,741 unreached people groups in the world. The definition of an unreached people group is a population that has less than 2% evangelical Christians. These 6,741 groups make up 42.2% of the global population- that is 3.14 billion people. Less than 1% of full time Christian workers are ministering to these groups.
Going to places where Christian are a minority is not the same as ministering to those from unreached people groups coming to us. Why? Because when folks come to us, they have access to Christians, churches, resources, relationship… Those in unreached areas may live their whole lives and never meet a Christian.
In some countries, being a Christian could cost you your family, friends or even your life. Christians who live in the most dangerous countries are more persecuted, facing harassment, assault, imprisonment or even death for their faith. Each year, Open Doors releases the World Watch List, a report that ranks the top fifty countries where Christians are most persecuted. According to the 2022 World Watch list: More than 360 million Christians live in these places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination, 5,898 Christians were killed for their faith, 5110 church and other Christian buildings were attacked. Every day 16 Christians are killed for their faith across the globe.
How to pray: that secret believers would be protected from violence, that believers in their countries would find fellowship to help them endure the hardships. Pray for the leadership that their hearts would change. Pray that those who are seeking truth would find God. The top five most dangerous countries for Christians are: one. Afghanistan 2. North Korea 3. Somalia 4. Libya 5. Yemen
Lighthouse Bible Church is having a global impact fulfilling the Great Commission. We support Greg and Laura Yoder with Christian World Outreach. Greg is responsible for overseeing the ministries in Haiti, Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
We support ministry in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. People struggle daily with political instability, poverty, fear of kidnappings and the bondage of voodoo.
We support ministry in Burkina Faso which is a country that is considered unreached, meaning less than 2% of the population have heard the Gospel or have access to a Bible, Church, or other Christians.
You can learn more about the ministries we support at cwomissions.org
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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