Every Nation – The Mission Fields on our Doorstep

Let the Whole Earth Hear His Voice
Our Lord Jesus Christ focused on ethnolinguistic people groups in the Great Commission. When the Lord commanded us to make disciples of every nation, He used the word ethne, from where our word ethnic comes. The Great Commission is not merely to take the Gospel to every one of the 222 countries in the world, but to each of the, at least, 16,000 ethnolinguistic people groups in the world. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20

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Confusion About What a Nation Is
Unfortunately, many are today confused about the concept of nations because there are a group of state representatives in New York calling themselves the United Nations. Of course, most of them have no legitimacy at all. They are mostly gangsters with flags. The United Nations is today the largest collection of unelected dictators, mass-murderers, drug-traffickers and human-traffickers on the planet. “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption…” 2 Peter 2:19

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A Biblical Nation is an Ethno Linguistic People Group with a Shared Faith
In the Scriptures we see that the Hebrews remained Hebrews, even after 480 years in Egypt. They never became Egyptians. We are not geographic accidents but demographic descendants. We are not called to make converts, or “decisions”, but disciples. We are to make disciples, not only of individuals, we must start there and of families which is vital, we are not only to disciple congregations and communities. The Great Commission commands us to make disciples of nations – all nations! The Scripture emphasise that all the families of the nations of the earth are to sing His praises in every language and tongue. "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your Blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation'…" Revelation 5:9

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Demographic Realities that Challenge Missionaries
As examples of how demographics have changed and present challenges to missionaries: There are 250,000 Arabs and 40,000 Iraqis living in Detroit. There are more than a million Japanese living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a city of 8 million, 10% of the churches are Korean speaking. In Marseille, France, a city of two million inhabitants, 31% are from Africa, mostly of Arab origin. In Minneapolis/St. Paul, there are 136 languages and more than 70 ethnic groups represented. More than half a million people in the twin cities are immigrants. There are now more Buddhists, (56,000), living in the twin cities, than Assemblies of God adherents in the whole state of Minnesota. There are twice as many Muslims (111,000) living in the twin cities than Assemblies of God adherents in the whole state of Minnesota. There are more Bulgarians living in Chicago, than in the capital city of Bulgaria, Sophia. In Cape Town, South Africa, we have large communities of Muslims from Restricted Access Areas such as Somalia, Eritrea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few.” Matthew 9:37

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The Mission Fields Next Door
World Missions are no longer only across oceans, deserts and mountains. Many nations have moved into our own neighbourhoods. Some Mission frontiers are no longer that geographically distant, but culturally different and literally in our own neighbourhoods. “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest!” John 4:35

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The Power of the Printed Page
To reach these many nations, we need the Word of God in every language. "The Lord gave the Word; great was the company of those who proclaimed it." Psalm 68:11

Faith Comes From the Word of God
"So then Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17. Do you have Gospel booklets and Scriptures to distribute to those you encounter on a daily basis?

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The Power of God
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes…" Romans 1:16. Are you regularly giving Gospel booklets to your friends, co-workers, neighbours and strangers? The Lord commanded us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all Creation. This is a command, not only to go into all the geographical world, but into every level of society. We must go into the world of business and education, the judiciary, government, entertainment, economics, medicine, sports and the arts. And we are to proclaim the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins. We must deal with the primary issue of sin. People are not innocent victims needing deliverance, but guilty sinners needing forgiveness and mercy from Almighty God. “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.” As with Christ’s Incarnation we need to become one with and identify with the people we are sent to. We need to live and speak the Gospel in their language and in their culture.

Living and Powerful
"For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12. Stock up on Spiritual ammunition. We are involved in a world war of worldviews. This is a battle for hearts, minds and souls. What we do now will have consequences for eternity.

Invincible
"So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

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Do You Want to Change your World?
If so, then plan now to join us for the inspiring and life-changing Great Commission Course (GCC), 25 June – 14 July 2021. For over two decades, participants of the GCC have come from as far afield as Australia and America, Britain and Botswana, Canada and Congo, Ghana and Germany, Namibia and New Zealand, Malawi and Mozambique, Sudan and South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The GCC is a uniquely practical Missionary Training programme for all who desire to be more innovative and effective in cross-cultural evangelism and discipleship. The GCC is an intensive, boots on the ground, body, mind and spirit training programme with daily outreaches and practicals with hands-on ministry, designed to stretch your mind and muscles, to widen your vision and to deepen your faith. Make Christ’s Great Commission your supreme ambition. Give up your small ambitions and follow Jesus!

Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
www.ReformationSA.org

To view a video on a previous Great Commission Course, click here.
To download a leaflet for the Great Commission Course, click here.
Listen to From the Frontline podcast on Can the Great Commission be Fulfilled in our Generation? here.
Listen to From the Frontline podcast on The Importance of the Great Commission here.
For more information, visit www.FrontlineMissionSA.org website, or to apply to participate, contact admin@frontline.org.za.

See also:
The Power of the Printed Page
You Are What You Read
The Greatest Book In the World
Bibles for Africa

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