Let’s at least hold the rope

There are approximately 8 billion people on this planet. Two billion people- 25% of the world’s population- will never meet a Christian or hear the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Most of these people live ain what is known as the 10/40 window. It includes the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. These are regions of the world dominated by false religions.

There are about 7,000 living languages today. Only 670 of these languages have a completed Bible. Fifteen hundred languages only have the New Testament. More than 2,00 languages do not have a single verse from the Bible translated into them.

The modern missionary movement began in 1793. Wiliam Carey left England for India. Four men in England pledged to support and stand behind William Carey as he left for India. One of those men was Andrew Fuller. Fuller viewed Carey’s journey to India as going down into a deep unexplored mine. Fuller said, “That day, it was as if Carey said to them, ‘Well, I will go down if you will hold the rope.”

Jesus called the apostles for two primary reasons. First, the apostles wrote the New Testament. Jesus gave us a pre-authenticated list of New Testament authors. Jesus promised His disciples, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26).

Second, Jesus called the apostles to do frontline, pioneering church planting. The apostle Paul spent 25 years in Eastern Europe planting churches. In Romans 15:19 Paul said, “…so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

In verse 20 Paul said, “And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation.” God called the apostles to do frontline, pioneering evangelism and church planting.

Tradition says that Peter was the first bishop to Antioch (modern day Syria) and died in Rome. Philip ministered to Greek speaking communities. Thomas went to India. Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia. Thaddeus went to Armenia. Matthias went to the Caspian Sea.

Paul wrote Romans because he planned to take the gospel to Western Europe. In Romans 15:24 Paul planned to go to Spain. Spain in the first century included parts of France, Portugal and modern day Spain. Paul wanted the church of Rome to be his sending church as he focused on Western Europe.

As Christians we have the greatest message. Peace with God is possible through the sacrifice of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus died for our sins! Our sins can be forgiven. Jesus died in our place. Through repentance and faith we can be saved!

Not every Christian is called or equipped to do frontline, pioneer missionary church planting. Every believer though is at least called to hold the rope! We need to encourage and support our missionaries. We should proclaim the gospel. We should also support, pray for and encourage our missionaries. Let’s either go down into the deep mine ourselves or at least hold the rope for others.

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.