Often I am asked, "Scott, why should we send our own across the globe when we have so many who don't know Jesus and so many problems right here?"
I love that question because first it is a fair observation, second it allows me to ask them how they heard about and encountered Jesus and the gospel story and then finally, it gives me a chance to answer their question.
So why do we send out our own? Let me turn to Paul, the key actor in the second half of Acts, he put it this way in Romans 10.13 - 15:
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?
Jesus, when asked after his resurrection when his reign would begin, said this in Mark 24.14: "The gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed to the whole world as a testimony to all nations (people groups) and then the end will come." Why do we go and send? Because today 7000+ People Groups remain without a Christ gathering (a church) in their midst. These groups total over 2 Billion people all without a chance to encounter the living gospel of Christ in a way they can understand it and embrace. This is why we send.
Over 2/3rds of Lake's Sent Ones minister focused on these "Least Reached" peoples. We send, like the Church of Antioch in Acts 11, to those who have yet to hear in obedience to the command to go.
His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the peoples. His authority in heaven gives us out only hope of success. And his presence with us leaves us no other choice. – John Stott
To His Glory,
Scott White
Interim Executive Pastor of Ministry