I was convicted this week as a friend from a predominantly non-Christian country shared what was on his heart. He made the statement that many people are praying for the return of Christ, but there’s so much work still to be done with the Gospel. “Pray that every person will have a chance to hear the gospel before Jesus returns.”

I haven’t been doing that. Instead, I’ve longed for the return of Christ as our world gets more and more dangerous with each day. I’m weary of seeing suffering, death, broken lives, sin… So, I’ve found myself praying, “Lord, come quickly.”

This friend reminded me that there are millions of people in the world who have never had a chance to hear the gospel. He challenged us to pray that the gospel would reach every tribe instead of praying for His quick return, which would mean eternal death for those who haven’t heard.

How can we be part of seeing that the world hears the gospel?

Pray.

Pray for the unreached peoples. Pray that God would bring people to them who can share the gospel. Pray for those who are going. Pray for open minds and hearts of those who hear.

Send.

It may not be feasible for you to go to another country and share the gospel, but you can send people through your financial giving.

Go.

Perhaps God wants you to be the one who takes the gospel to the “uttermost parts of the world.” When I go to other countries, my heart is to train and equip the nationals for sharing the gospel and discipling new believers. Recently, I taught a group of women how to use the gospel bracelet to share the gospel, just using colored beads. They couldn’t wait to go back to their homes and use these bracelets to share Christ in their villages.

While on staff with Cru, I spent a summer in the Philippines taking the Jesus film to remote villages. We’d often spend an hour walking down a dirt path to reach a village. We’d hang up a sheet between two trees, set up the generator, go door to door and invite people to come to the movie about Jesus, and share the gospel after the film. I will never forget the look on their faces as many heard about Jesus for the first time.

As I’ve gotten older, I’m limited in my “going.” I still go, but I know I’m not able to do today what I did when I was in my 20’s. Today, my focus is more on equipping and discipling, so they can take the gospel out.

Will you join me in praying for the unreached people groups in the world?

Pray that God would raise up laborers to take the gospel to the farthest corner so all people would have a chance to hear. As my friend said, “They may reject the gospel. But, at least give them a chance to hear it.”

We look forward to the day Jesus returns, but until then, we have work to do!

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” – Matthew 24:14

How does God want to use you in taking the gospel to the world?