Missions Needs

I know people on this trip are already brainstorming ideas for a return to Nagarote. And perhaps some of the people back in Florida are even considering whether they might want to participate in a future mission.

As we read in the Bible:

"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work," Jesus told them. "Don't you say, 'There are still four more months, then comes the harvest'? Listen [to what] I'm telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest. The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together." (John 4:34-36, HCSB)

It's so true that the fields are ready for harvest. There are billions of people around the world who don't know Jesus. But how can we be part of God's work in reaching those people?

Luckily, our own Southern Baptist Convention has worked very hard to make it possible for Christians to get out of their steepled ghettos and enter the world.

The Bridge is "an exceptional tool to connect Southern Baptists with mission opportunities in North America."

"The Acts 1:8 Challenge is an opportunity for Southern Baptist churches to declare their commitment to a comprehensive missions strategy in their community (Jerusalem), state (Judea), continent (Samaria) and world (ends of the earth)."

The International Mission Board also has a short-term missions site.

Of course, we can also be involved while at home.

We can pray for missions. Jesus said to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send out workers (Mt 9:38). We can learn about people around the world who have no one to tell them the gospel (aka "unreached people groups"), and we can pray that God sends missionaries into those communities. And we can pray for the work being done by missionaries around the world. We can communicate with missionaries and encourage them. And we can rejoice with them as people come to know Christ.

We can support missionaries. Through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Offering, through our churches' contributions to the Cooperative Program, and through many other programs, such as Campus Crusade for Christ, we can support global missions. After all, how can they go unless they are sent (Ro 10:15)?