"Billions of people are engrossed in the worship of false gods, and approximately two billion of those people are still unreached with the Gospel, meaning that they have little chance of even hearing about the sacrifice of Christ for their sins before they die. Most of the unreached live in hard-to-reach areas of the world that are hostile to Christians-areas of the world where our brothers and sisters are presently persecuted, imprisoned, and killed. Though the challenges facing the church are great, the Commission Christ has given is clear: make disciples of all Nations. Spend your lives spreading the Gospel of God for the glory of God to the ends of the earth. As you go, trust in His sovereign authority, depend on his indwelling presence, and experience His incomparable joy."
– David Platt, Foreward of "Risk is Right"
I came upon this paragraph Tuesday and it has stuck with me all week. God has called me to spread His love to the world and that is why in July I will be leaving for a year. Giving up the comfort of home, leaving behind the fellowship of my friends and family, and embracing the unknown that God has called me to, because His love is worth the risk.
Half of the countries in which I will be doing ministry are within the 10-40 window: Cambodia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. So what is special about the 10-40 window in respect to missions? Well have a look at some of the following facts.
Center of population – First off 2/3 of the world's population (4.4+ billion people) live in this window.
Unreached and unevangelized – 90% of the people living in the window are unevangelized…meaning many of the people have never heard the Gospel message EVEN ONCE! There are either no Christians, or not enough of a Christian movement in many of the cultures within the window to carry out neighbor-to-neighbor evangelism.
Poverty – 85% of those living in the window are the poorest of the world's poor.
World religions – Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are centered within the 10/40 window.
Of those countries I will be living in that are not within the 10/40 window they are still among some of the world's poorest countries populated with people — men, women, children, orphans, widows, sick, hurting, hungry, slaves — that are desperate for God's love. And God has called me to be a vessel of His love to these people, to live beside them, to love them, to pray for them and I couldn't be more excited.
With this I know that there will be risk/struggles, but that God can overcome them.
When I become scared, He is my peace.
When I feel alone, He is my companion.
When I become sick, He is my healing.
When I become uncomfortable, He is my comfort.
When I become tired, He is my strength.
Risk is right. And in those risks God's power and love will shine even brighter. I go because they haven't heard.
You can also be a part of spreading the message of God's love around the world through partnering with me through prayer and financial support. Would you please prayerfully consider doing so?! To those who already have, Thank you (:
