I find the work(research, analysis) of Justin Long, of ‘The Network for Strategic Missions, quite remarkable on this subject. You would think the situation is quite well defined, all the mission agencies should just work on mobilizing more and more people to these un-worked fields. Hmmm? I thought so too.

While looking for material to read on missionary work recently, I came across an old post by David Sherbrooke on The Network for Strategic Missions blog, I think I find in it many key insights to what is happening with regards to our actual progress with taking the Gospel to the remaining Unreached People Groups of the world. The article titled ‘How new missionaries choose their country of service: do we need a change?‘ examines reasons why far less than 10%(actually 2% is quoted) of serving missionaries go to places that are regarded to be unreached, while at least 90% serve and continue to be sent to places where the church is already established.

David Sherbrooke thinks that overt self-consciousness on the part of  prospective missionaries(which he terms “The Zeal for Me”) is a major problem, in his words:

Trying to seek our own self fulfillment, a spin-off of modern psychology, is contrary to the most basic concept Jesus taught His disciples. “He knew that the only path to true fulfillment lay in denying self. The only way to find truly abundant life is to throw your life away for Jesus’ sake.” The vast majority of new missionaries today simply go where they want to serve, and do what they want to do adding to the masses, today still ninety percent, serving in already reached peoples. “The biggest hindrance to the missionary task is self. Self that refuses to die. Self that refuses to sacrifice. Self that refuses to give. Self that refuses to go.” I would add to this: self that refuses to go where few if any missionaries are serving.

Then he went on to give cogent reasons why ‘Most New Missionaries End Up Serving In Well Evangelized Countries Rather than Unreached People Groups?’… And wow that was really enlightening, if I could summarise it here I would have, though it’s a long read but it’s very well worth your time to read the original article.

This beautiful article contains many balanced pointers to positive approaches and the way forward. I also went through the thread of discussion that followed as readers, including serving missionaries and Justin Long himself, shed more light on the existing situation and shared more ideas. One commenter which I find particularly remarkable was Thomas Johnson, a missionary in francophone Africa who brought in another perspective by a related issue to the discussion. I guess another great part of this article, is the wealth of references cited in the endnotes.

Here is the link again. Enjoy! How new missionaries choose their country of service: do we need a change?

The bottom line is that, if the great commission is going to be accomplished, we all need to leave our comfort zones and doing our own thing, and begin to go and cater for those dangerous, undesirable places where the gospel is needed and lacked most. Probably enough analysis to start with has been done, the problem and the solution stare us in the face, but where now are the people who will go!

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1. Mission quotes “Reaching the unreached is a challenging task, but our primary...

“Reaching the unreached is a challenging task, but our primary problem is not the cultural, economic, logistical or political barriers we face. It is more simple: we lack sufficient manpower.” – Justin Long, “Where are We Going?” in Momentum Magazine, July/ August, 2006

“The biggest hindrance to the missionary task is self. Self that refuses to die. Self that refuses to sacrifice. Self that refuses to give. Self that refuses to go. I would add to this: self that refuses to go where few if any missionaries are serving.” – David Sherbrooke, in How new missionaries choose their country of service: do we need a change?

“The world will not be reached if no one serves long term… Believers typically undergo a revolution of mission-mindedness on their first mission trip[referring to short-term mission visits]; too often, however, when they want to know how they can further help, we tell them we are praying for funds for a new vehicle or building. Is this the best we can do? Did Jesus say, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send more checks in the mail?’ Such an approach may actually deter otherwise-willing people from long-term service on the field by convincing them the best thing they can do is go home, take more mission trips and send money. I am not saying buildings, vehicles or giving are wrong. Nor am I criticizing the vital role of the sender or of the other wonderful callings on the home front. Indeed, we need all of these. We just need to make sure we are challenging people to go where the gospel is unavailable. We need to remember that three missionaries for every one million Muslims cannot complete the Great Commission with any amount of money.” – Chris Leake, Global Frontier Missions, Oaxaca, Mexico

“It is our conviction that all theological study and reflection must lead to mission and action, otherwise it is futile abstraction. It is also our conviction that all mission activity must be based on a sound theological foundation, otherwise it is mere pragmatism. It is at the very frontiers of mission that both theological reflection and activity must be forged to create an effective tool for breaking new ground for the kingdom. Thus, Lausanne is committed to bringing together both thinkers and doers.” – Doug Birdsall, Lausanne World Pulse

“A biblically illiterate young generation today is an inevitable forerunner of an increasingly secular society tomorrow.” – Colin Reed, Chief executive of the Bible Society in New Zealand

“There is a small area of the world that extends from ten degrees to forty degrees north of the equator and stretches from North Africa to China, two-thirds of the world’s population (nearly four billion people) live inside this rectangular-shaped band. Here you will find the largest population of non-Christians and ninety percent of the world’s poorest people. This area is known as the 10/40 Window… Unfortunately, many Christians are not eager to go to this part of the world. Only three percent of missionaries are serving among unreached peoples; the other ninety-seven percent remain in areas where the gospel is readily accessible.” – Bethany Newman

“More Christians have been martyred for their faith in this century alone than in the previous nineteen centuries combined.” – Chuck Colson

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A pilgrim in an alien world
Constantly seeking intervention from my Lord
By nothing consoled in this raided place
Like the small picture of home that lingers before my face.

You wonder if I’m weary by the strain of my yearning;
Or is my spirit breaking at the stretch of watching?
Longing to be caught up from the snares and cares of this earth;
Desperate for deliverance from this conflicting body of death?

All thanks to the communion of The Comforter
Without which I could have wasted like a fish out of water;
As I daily subdue my carnal body on the altar of prayer
My spirit rekindles with joy of the Holy Ghost’s fire.

If I will I can from earthly toil and care withdraw
To this heavenly blessedness for strength to endure;
Enriching my hope in the assurance of His Word
Blessing my soul with pregnant chants of ‘Jesus my lord!’

Ever in His presence; I feel content and blest,
It’s no lesser place than the very ‘Haven of rest’;
Once more embraced in His gentle arms of love,
Re-inspiring my hopes of spending eternity above.

© 2001, Tee Akindele

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Responding to persecution

How does the bible teach us to respond when we are being persecuted, discriminated against, abused or cheated because we identify with Jesus:

1. Courage. The first human response to opposition is usually fear. The reason why the scriptures are full of warning about persecution in the world is so that we will not be afraid when it comes. Ignorance about what persecution means make many feel they did something wrong when it shows up, guilt could lead on to hopelessness, fear and despair, which can make a person deny his/her faith at the very time it matters most. There’s nothing to be afraid of. The strength of God is always there to see us through this kind of situations and deliver us.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mt 10:28(NKJV)

And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness…
Acts 4:29

The disciples didn’t even ask for their persecution to come to an end when threatened, they asked for courage to continue!

2. Grace. It takes only the grace of God in our hearts to maintain a right attitude in the face of persecution. What if they murdered your husband, and killed your baby? I can’t even attempt to answer the numerous what ifs. Only the grace of God can?

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mt 5:44(NKJV)

Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1Pet 2:23(NKJV) [Peter talking about Jesus]

Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1Pet 3:9(NKJV)

see also 1Cor 4:12, Rom 12:14. I know that this things may appear easier said, but God will not require from us what He hasn’t given us a capacity for. Let Stephen be our example who prayed for his attackers even as they stoned him to death, Our Lord Jesus did the same.

We must never be tempted to retaliate or plot revenge, our hearts are no place for malice. I fully understand and accept self defence and protection of loved ones, within a man/woman’s capacity, in a warring situation, as a dignified and legitimate instinct. But even at that, we Christians will never fight out of sheer malice. In the Jos massacres, we hear that some alleged Christians, schemed and perpetrated reprisal attacks against their muslim counterparts. I shrink from sounding insensitive, but if they were Christians indeed, this should never have been possible. We do not wrestle flesh and blood, be they religious extremists or not. We should leave justice to God and those He has given that authority by law.

3. Reliance on the Holy Spirit. We must always remember a point I made earlier, every case of persecution is an unconventional and uncommon opportunity to witness about the gospel. Countless testimonies abound of persecutors who got convicted of their sins through the witness of a person they persecuted and Repented. This is a work we can’t arrange, but which we can rely on the Holy Spirit to do for us. Sometimes we don’t even have to speak a word, the fruit of the Spirit is itself the voice of the Holy Spirit.

But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mk 13:11(NKJV)

Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, when they see your reverent and chaste behavior.
1Pet 3:1-2(RSV)

Identifying with the persecuted

It breaks my heart sometimes when I hear how Christians, especially southerners in Nigeria talk about Christians being murdered  by religious extremists in the north. Some actually are convinced that God will never allow His children to be killed by infidels, and dare to believe that all the Christian victims couldn’t have been really saved. What nonsense!

I was in a worship service at Sokoto State one Sunday morning, during one of the weekends of crisis in Jos, when someone rose up to share her testimony. “I am happy to be in God’s presence this morning, many people are dying in Jos right now, but thank God we’re in His presence .” She said. Did she assume that those dying in Jos were not believers or that they where not in God’s presence or did I just misunderstand her? Well my point is believers generally find it hard or don’t know how to identify with their fellow believers suffering elsewhere, so long as they are not involved and this ought not to be so.

Chosing to ignore or be ignorant of the plight of suffering Christian’s around us is a sin many of us are guilty of, especially in Africa. The bible says “if one part suffers the whole part suffers with it….” “…mourn with those who mourn…”. Since the inception of crisis in Jos, for instance, thousands of Churches and houses of Christians have been destroyed, hundreds of church leaders and other Christians have been murdered, hundreds of thousands of people at one point or the other where displaced, how many churches in the west and south, or even from the neighboring Northern states rallied round them for support. We mostly turn the other way and leave it for the good samaritans (UNICEF, RED CROSS and Government). Yet, ministries all the way from the US like, open doors, also International Christian Concern, etc, played major roles. Whatever happened to “charity begins at home”.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Mat 25:37-40(RSV)

One thing we can always do for persecuted Christians is to pray for them. But how can we pray effectual prayer when we are not interested in being informed. So we must also be interested. Read, ask, visit, find out, reach out. When you reach out to a suffering Christian, you reach out to Christ and you touch His soul, the bible confirms these. Most persecuted people mostly request more of prayers, they need to be spiritually strengthened by our prayers, as well as, they need out material ministrations. We need to always let them know they are not alone in their suffering, but that we suffer with them too.

Conclusion

We live in the age of Human Rights, wherein the bible doctrine on Christian persecution may seem annoying or insufferable. Many of us wish to avoid the subject altogether, but the bible says so much and scarcely leaves anything in doubt about Godly suffering, if we’ld receive it. Persecution is still a current and very much relevant issue confronting millions of Christians today. Persecution doesn’t have to be allowed to destroy or disorientate the church. Persecution can actually help deepen the believers focus on eternity. Persecution has been seen to many times strengthen the church and fuel the furtherance of the gospel. Christians tempered with persecution tend to be less self centered, they most times have a deeper hunger for God and His word and have a deeper commitment to serve. Check out the growth of the church in China, the place with the highest number of persecuted Christians, if you doubt this one.

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1. Christian Persecution: Biblical Perspectives for the 21st century mind [Part 1] For most modern day Christians, persecution is merely a historical...

Christian Persecution, however, is of a very broad scope. It is not merely about antagonism from people of other religions. People are being persecuted in diverse ways all around the globe; from diverse sources both inside and outside the Church; for various reasons, ranging from conversion to Christianity, to refusing to take a bribe; degrees varying from mild scorn, discrimination, deprivation, to denial of legal rights; and yes, even in the 21st century, hundreds or thousands of Christians are still being imprisoned, sentenced to death or ruthlessly murdered, for practicing what they believe, all over the world, daily.

In any case, I have come to learn that generally, for most modern day Christians, persecution is merely a historical or antiquated theological ideology, an awkward subject that hopefully the church has overgrown. We  do not actually have a proper understanding of what Christian persecution is all about; or of what our expectation, attitude and responses must be in the face of being confronted, harassed, or having to pay very dear and painful sacrifices for our beliefs and convictions; we barely have any sense of  identification with people suffering for their faith in Christ and for their passion to share the gospel. I hope I can show you just how tragic this is.

Are Christians to expect persecution?

The Christian people who had their villages and families massacred along with the aged and infants, by religious extremists (Hindus, Jihadists etc) in places like india, North Korea, China and Jos didn’t wish or ask for it. We do not pray for or expect persecution. we do not go about with the countenance of a persecution complex or expose ourselves to danger unnecessarily. But will persecution happen? God’s word is our best guide on that.

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
John 5:16(NKJV)

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
John 15:18-21(NKJV)

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
2Tim 2:12(NKJV).

See also Mark 10:29-30

I think Jesus made it clear to His disciples that being a believer goes with being persecuted, there is actually no exception to the rule. Christ himself was maligned and persecuted through out his ministry especially by religious people, the bible says that in His suffering He showed us an example to follow. At one point or the other we’ll all have to face being abused and looked down upon because of what we believe especially when we try to witness or share our faith with others, and when we stand for truth or against injustice and unrighteousness. Most times we’ll be confronted with whether to deny Christ or to bear reproach for His name.

The only conditions for not encountering any form of persecution in the Christian life, may include not taking a firm stand for righteousness, or never attemptimg to witness about Jesus. Unfortunately, many Christians are not taught this well enough. The doctrine of our identifying with the cross of Jesus in such a way is so unpopular, in place of it we have a parochial and watered down Superman theology that offers that the essence of Christ’s suffering is just so that we can become great, rich and famous in this life. This kind of religion will never pose an effective witness to the gospel in the face of opposition, such shallow belief system can’t hold the kind of  grace that cripples every storm of the Christian life.

What would God gain from Christians suffering for their faith? Doesn’t He care?

We only always make futile attempts trying to speak for God. Yet a logical explanation that comes to my mind is that, what better way could God show that He cared for us than by Christ coming to suffer persecution himself and die on the cross to save us, in the first place. Christ never leaves us to face persecution alone, when a Christian is persecuted, Christ also is persecuted. He said to Saul on the road to Damascus “I am Jesus, whom you have been persecuting”.

Secondly, no believer who dies in faith or for the sake of The Gospel can lose his/her life. The hope and promise that we have from God guarantees this. Whichever way a believer leaves this life (all mankind will leave one way or the other), He is grandly welcomed into God’s embrace where he/she finds eternal rest. “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15. We have a reward larger than this life that makes us gladly bear any cross of affliction or tribulation we have to bear to be identified with or to honor Jesus.

Another very strong point for being ready to suffer as a Christian if need be, witnessed by scripture, is the fact that every time our conviction is being challenged, gives us an opportunity to witness for the gospel to the unsaved, we rejoice in such an opportunity because of the possibility of it leading to the birth of another Christian and strengthening the faith of other believers. This glorifies God.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21: 12

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Phil 1: 12-14(The words of Apostle Paul while chained in prison)

Yes, God cares! For in all our persecution, He’ll never forsake us, He’ll be with us in the fiery furnace or the Lion’s den. And if to serve His eternal purpose, He’ll lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, whichever way, we need not fear evil.

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
2Cor 4:8-9

Persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra–what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Tim 3:11

This article is not concluded, please see: Christian Persecution: Biblical Perspectives for the 21st century mind [Part 2]. for the concluding part.

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1. Christian Persecution: Biblical Perspectives for the 21st century mind [Part 2] How do we respond to persecution? Why and how do...