Truett McConnell Assignment
Matthew 28 He says, “So wherever you go, makes disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember I am with you until the end of time.” This is the reason we evangelize cross culturally. We are called to go into every nation with different tongues and baptize them. There are many unreached people groups all around the world, meaning they have never even heard the name Jesus. It is vital that missionaries go out and share the Gospel. It was not always the norm and expected to cross culturally share the news Jesus, so when it was introduced by God, it was radical.
Peter was traveling from Joppa to Caesarea, and this journey was very different and probably confusing to him. Up until this point, Judaism was all he thought about because the gentiles were unclean and unchosen. Acts 10:15 A voice says to Peter, “Don’t say that the things which God has made are unclean.” After meeting with a gentile in Rome, Cornelius, the Lord changed Peter’s heart. Acts 10:34-36, “God doesn’t play favorites. Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation. God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is everyone’s Lord.” Peter then reports to the Jewish church in Acts 11 that “God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and at and have eternal life.”
The message shared was that God is not partial to one type of background; Jesus died and rose again for everyone. God would redeem anyone who believed Jesus died for their sin, and when the gentiles accepted this, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we believe that God cannot use us for His glory because of our pasts: who our families are, where we were born, or the money we do not have. God is not limited by these human attributes. In Revelation 7 states, “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribe and peoples and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands , and crying with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”” Everyone is called to be a Christ follower and serve Him.
Evangelizing out of the comfort zone can be difficult for many reasons. English is most likely not there first language, things can be lost in translation, or they locals may not trust you right off the bat. In fact you can expect these things. Through this it is so beautiful to see the Holy Spirit move, and have Him convey the message. From my personal experience the best way to connect is to have a smile on your face. Know the basic language greetings and do not be afraid to shake a hand, pick up a child, or hug someone. These things will take you very far in having great connection. The organization I volunteer with in Ethiopia sponsors 17 families in the village community by giving them money monthly. I get the opportunity to leave the compound and visit these families in the village, and it is my favorites time of the week. Evangelism in those times looks like holding and praying quietly over their children. It also looks like helping with whatever need to be done around the house, like cooking cleaning or bathing the children. This is the best way to show Jesus, with a language barrier. Recently my team was in Cambodia, and one afternoon we were celebrating a teammate’s birthday by having a picnic in the park. A man kept walking by our blanket until it was around the 5 time. We called him over, and the Lord gave us the boldness to share Jesus with him. It was truly incredible, I could see and hear his hunger for something more. We pointed him to a great local church we attend, and we also gave him the new testament in his language. People are hungry for Jesus no matter the country.
