| Review – Revolution in World Missions |
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by Tom Gilbert
Revolution
is a word that conjures change, often radical, disruptive
or even violent change. It frequently makes me think of
war. So, to title a book "Revolution in World Missions"
is the equivalent of saying that the status quo of missionary
efforts is no longer effective. The spiritual warfare
we are engaged in needs strategic revision. This is the
message of K.P. Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia.
The great commission to go into all the world and preach
the Gospel has resulted in hundreds of years of evangelistic
efforts in the name of Christ. Unfortunately, it has
also been in the name of other things, such as the imperialistic
agenda of numerous countries and governments. Christ's
message of salvation is for all, but oh how that message
has been twisted to fit the desires of the messenger.
There is a real need to preach the Gospel to for a part of
the world known as the "10/40 window". Most
of the world's unreached people dwell here. There's
been lots of talk and press about this area, but not
nearly enough action. Gospel For Asia works directly
in this section of Asia and Indonesia that encompasses
India, Nepal, Pakistan and other countries. It's an
area dominated by paganism, animalism and various Eastern
religions. The population is in the billions. Yet, many
who live there have never heard of Jesus. Gospel for
Asia is attempting to meet this need through native
missionaries. Yohannan eloquently, but humbly, communicates
how difficult it is to do this. Foreign missionaries
are no longer welcome in many of these communities,
but that aside, not many foreigners have been successful
in church planting and seeing significant conversions.
Natives, on the other hand, are having much greater
success and with a much greater economy of scale.
This makes sense, in that people will tend to be more open
to those they relate to. It's the "walk a mile
in my shoes" sensibility. Still, the persecution
many of these committed natives face for their Christianity
and preaching is real and tragic. Asia is misunderstood
by most of us in the Western world. We don't understand
the prominent religions or the followers there. It's
a different mindset. They also don't understand Christians,
and are rightfully leery of post-colonial white people
telling them what they need to do to be saved. That's
blunt, but that's the reality.
What has Gospel for Asia been able to accomplish in just
over twenty years? Evidently a great deal. The native missionaries they've trained
up and sent out into the mission fields are reporting
many coming to Christ. Churches are being founded at
a rapid rate. People are hearing and responding to the
Good News like never before. Still, the need is almost
overwhelming. Many thousands of new native missionaries
are needed.
This book lays out a challenge for what we can do. The call
is not for us to go overseas and serve side-by-side
with the natives. Here in the West is where the finances
and resources are. God has blessed us richly. We have
no real appreciation of that, nor of the abject poverty
that so much of the developing world suffers in.
Issues like accountability, trusting in God, and being led
by the Spirit are discussed in detail and Yohannan pleads
with us to see the vision and respond to the call. It
can be done with churches as a group, but more important,
each of us can individually help sponsor these men and
women bravely bringing the Good News. A mere thirty dollars a month
will sponsor a native missionary.
Reading this book will open your eyes…and hopefully your
heart. Despite our frequently limited worldviews --
restricted to our own backyards-- we must remember what
Paul exhorted: "You are all sons of God through
faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized
into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There
is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
You can find out more about Gospel
for Asia at their web site where you can also request
a free copy of the book "Revolution in World Missions".
You can also write to them at:
Gospel For Asia
1800 Golden Trail Ct
Carrollton, TX 75010-9908
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Scripture taken from the Holy
Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
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trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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