This Should Not Be

I was blessed with the opportunity to sit under very wise counsel today, and I am emotionally moved and totally convicted about my "heart for missions" by the things this man brought to mind. I would say that I am committed to missions, especially at this point. I would have said that throughout the past ten years or so of my life. Sadly, though, I have done little in putting a dent in the millions around the world who have never heard the name of Jesus. I've had little to do with financially supporting those who are actively being obedient to the call of the Great Commission, and even less to do with the activity of the Great Commission, overseas and on familiar territory. This should not be. Sure I have shared the gospel with people, I have gone on week long mission trips, but I have never fully submitted to a life of introducing the truth of Christ to everyone I encounter. While studying Acts I've been convicted that the people around me should eternally benefit from my presence in their lives, I'm broken that this just hasn't been the case.

I've grown up with the understanding that a yearly Christmas offering is noble and sacrificial. In addition, that it is all that's necessary to support the global cause of missions. That the SBC is brilliant to support missionary's out of the offering plates of the American church. There are 17million Baptists in America and right now there is a halt on the sending agency, solely due to a significant drop in funds. 17million Baptists in America are sending out 5,600 of their own around the world, but will not tithe enough to send anymore. This should not be. That yearly Christmas offering is a balm for the conscience of the American church. I'm not sure that the funds will be available for me to return at the end of my two years. What then?

I feel now as if I'm throwing a paper airplane into a snow storm of lostness. How can a difference be made in a group of thousands of people in only 2 years? The 300 people being trained with me now, will that be enough to affect the supersized unreached groups they're going to?

Right now I am with 300 or so others who are pumped up and ready to go to the most hidden corners of the world with the ultimate Good News; and it's so exciting to be a part of the first few lines of this page of history! I'm broken hearted, though, knowing that there will be thousands that die before my friends and I ever land in our new homes. They're dying today. They're dying eternally. This should not be. Our News is only Good if it reaches those people while they have a chance to Live. This is the challenge of the Gospel, and the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of All Nations...".