What are the places most in need of ministry?

Farquad_38 · Jan 18, 2005

Hey anybody and everybody...I'm a teenager who's looking into a career in ministry. I'm just 15, so I know it's a long way off, but...still. Just looking to get a general idea here. What are some areas of the world that are in the greatest need of ministry? What I mean is uncivilized areas, where people have literally never heard of Jesus and have no access to do so. I'd especially like some Spanish-speaking countries, since I'm planning on taking Spanish all four years in high school...

Any thoughts?

E_Powers · Jan 19, 2005

sounds like american bar districts where you have areas of american cities with nothing but bars

ElElohe · Jan 20, 2005

I started this reply yesterday but the internet or website crashed, and it was thus lost. Today I only have 10 minutes before heading to the aerodrome, so pardon the curt brevity of this reply.

Your question What are the places most in need of ministry? is wonderful, esp. pertaining to your own interest. In short:

Spanish speaking countries are not on the top of the priority list. However there are some indigenous groups in S. and C. America still unreached. See also the Basque in Northern Spain.

The 10/40 window is where the greatest need is. This is made up of SE Asia, Southern Asia, Arabia and Northern Africa.

A mag. called Mission Frontiers tried to answer your question in its last two issues. See them online at www.missionfrontiers.org.

Things you can do to seek out God's leading for your own involvement in long-term missions:

~ Start supporting a missionary or two, prayer and financially, in a region you have some interest in. Develop a relationship with them as much as you can.

~ Take the class Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (www.perspectives.org)

~ Find a mentor, if you can, who has been oversears long-term.

~ Go on a short-term trip to an area you might be interested in. Spare no effort in preperation!

elm0 · Jan 20, 2005

That's all great advice! I might also suggest that if you aren't already involved in some sort of local 'mission' that you do that. I'm not suggesting soup kitchens or homeless shelters, although they would be good too, but not sure if they let 15 y.o's help. The best training for overseas mission is serving where you are, just getting in and doing whatever God would have you do where you are now. Maybe helping out with Sunday School, things like that. Ask your minister what you could help with around the place. The most essential part of mission work is the willingness to do any task you are capable of. Hey, I know one missionary who as a teenager took it upon himself to empty the bins after church every Sunday. He saw it as something that needed doing that he could do.

Hope this helps.

As for places most in need of ministry, I don't know. Sometimes I think people in Western society tend to forget about those around them who need God because they're so focussed on other places. Australia has had a few missionaries from the Solomon Islands, they saw our country as a place that needs God, so they came to minister to us. It really made me think.

I encourage you to work for God where you are, and when God has finished training you, He will let you know where to go next!

E_Powers · Jan 21, 2005

why must we go to forein countries to do missionary work??? expecially when our country is not in order.

BlackRain · Jan 21, 2005

E_Powers said:
why must we go to forein countries to do missionary work??? expecially when our country is not in order.

God calls us to. but, i see your point. i've often thought about that. i think we're just oblivious to our surroundings at times. if we would take time to look at the faces and not just the crowds of people i really believe we would see the need for Christ. in my city there's a church on every corner, but only 5000 people go to church every sunday. there is a great need for the Lord here, we just have to be more bold about it and less hesitant. i also think that its easier to share your faith over seas or in a foreign country...at least it is for me.

Grl4Christ987 · Feb 2, 2005

Everyone has posted a fair amount of where missionaries/evangelists are needed. The most oppressed countries, however it may be, are the Middle and Far Eastern countries. I myself am going to China( as you can tell in my signature). But wherever you feel God calling you is the most important thing you could possibly do. Home missions is really starting to have a huge impact on the youth of country, especially inner-city missions. I would encourage you to pray about and go on a few missions trips (both home country and globaly). Hope this helps!! God bless you!

ElElohe · Feb 2, 2005

I'll take this one up . . .

E_Powers said:
why must we go to forein countries to do missionary work??? expecially when our country is not in order.

Firstly, let me state that we "must go to foreign countries to do missionary work." However, not all of us will be going. Acts 1:8 states " . . . you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The key word in this promise to us is AND. It is not for us to just stay in our own town, state or country.

Black Rain has already pointed out that:

in my city there's a church on every corner

However there are places this is not the case. These are the places, the unreached places, that we need to be focusing on. The "west" is reached, per se. We and those around us have the opportunity to hear.

Evangelism needs to continue occurring eveywhere. With this you are correct. Missions needs to be understood as going to those places where there is no native Bible, no church, and in many instances still no believers!

Most of us will not go. In fact, George Verwer (founder, OM) has stated they aren't lacking manpower these days, they are lacking funds. The rest of us will be Serving as Senders (which is the title of a book on the same subject. Look it up!!!). We need to support finanancially (yes, sacrificially!), we need to pray, we need to mobilize.

China for Him · Feb 3, 2005

It is important to look outside your window for opportunities to witness the love of Christ. It is important to travel to the "third world" to observe the church in action and maybe gain an appreciation for what we have here. It will also allow you to see how God is moving in other nations and the price that they pay for His sake.

E_Powers · Feb 3, 2005

i know people feel the call to go to where the word has not been heard but in my case i am called to evangelize and lead teams into bar districts in st.louis and sofar the person called with me is very resistant

ElElohe · Feb 3, 2005

You wouldn't happen to be working with St Louis Dream Center, would you?

E_Powers said:
i know people feel the call to go to where the word has not been heard but in my case i am called to evangelize and lead teams into bar districts in st.louis and sofar the person called with me is very resistant

That is interesting . . . how do you know this other person is the one called to work with you?

Pioneers, working with unreached people groups, encourages people to create their own teams before going overseas. This is a great idea, as teammate conflict greatly hinders work and can often result in missionaries coming home.

StTrudi316 · Feb 7, 2005

Farquad_38 said:
Hey anybody and everybody...I'm a teenager who's looking into a career in ministry. I'm just 15, so I know it's a long way off, but...still. Just looking to get a general idea here. What are some areas of the world that are in the greatest need of ministry? What I mean is uncivilized areas, where people have literally never heard of Jesus and have no access to do so. I'd especially like some Spanish-speaking countries, since I'm planning on taking Spanish all four years in high school...

Any thoughts?

Hello all. I'd like to challenge all of us, including myself, to think outside the "mission box" and consider that one of the greatest missional needs is the United States of America. Countless teens and young adults are choosing suicide because they find no other alternative. Visit your local watering hole (bar or hangout) and find people eager to talk about spiritual things. Not saying that God isn't leading certain ones to various places...I'm all about Acts 1:8...but I also know that we have hurting, hungry and very lonely people right here, rubbing shoulders with us. Farquad, I assume you're in high school. Surrounded by a fluid mission field. Ask God to guide you to the person (s) He wants you to introduce Him to.
StTrudi316 in Omaha

ElElohe · Feb 7, 2005

I don't mean to repeat myself here but this thread is hitting on something very close to my heart, which it seems God has led me share at such opportunities.

Too often, stressing the need for evangelism (again, I distinguish between evangelism and missions, as I think is necessary for clarity among the brethren) here int he states is a cop-out. No one contests such a need. But there are places in the world where there is not one, count it one, Christian to counsel and evangelize one other person to come to Christ!

Where is the need greater? A good book dealing with mobilizing for missions is The Ten Modules. It uses the example of triag in medicine applied to missions vs stateside evangelism (which every Christian should be involved in in some way). For instance, the person with a bullet would will get priority over someone with a broken finger. It isn't about who the doctors love more; it's about where the greatest need is.

If you mean to challenge people to step out, per se, for those who are no more than bench warmers in the church, amen. But that is only one of many steps in the right direction. Our attitude should be:

PLANNING TO GO, WILLING TO STAY

Most of us will end up staying to support those who go anyway. But if our heart attitude is right, we won't just be willing to go, we will have the desire to take the Gospel to the people's who haven't heard!

It says in Matt 24:14 and Rev 5 and 7 that ALL tribes and tongues must hear the Gospel before Jesus comes back.

StTrudi316 said:
Hello all. I'd like to challenge all of us, including myself, to think outside the "mission box" and consider that one of the greatest missional needs is the United States of America. Countless teens and young adults are choosing suicide because they find no other alternative. Visit your local watering hole (bar or hangout) and find people eager to talk about spiritual things. Not saying that God isn't leading certain ones to various places...I'm all about Acts 1:8...but I also know that we have hurting, hungry and very lonely people right here, rubbing shoulders with us. Farquad, I assume you're in high school. Surrounded by a fluid mission field. Ask God to guide you to the person (s) He wants you to introduce Him to.
StTrudi316 in Omaha

Green Orchid · Feb 11, 2005

I don't think we should evaluate where we will be missionaries in terms of needs but rather in terms of call. I
f we go by needs, we'll just be overwhelmed by the endless needs of this world. But if we go where we are called, we will be exactly where God wants us to be and where He will be able to use us best.

ZiSunka · Feb 17, 2005

The US, Canada and Britain are the most needy countries when it comes to people who have never really heard the message of Christ. If you can, do mission work right here!

I used to live in the innercity in Cleveland, and almost none of the people ever heard the Good News.

Bounty Hunter7 · Feb 17, 2005

China thats where my friend wants to go on a mission trip.

VictorianVelvet · Feb 18, 2005

You may be young, but you can still do ministry in your own home town, in jails, and homeless shelters, and volunteer to help feed people in need. I believe practice makes perfect. I've been to Spain, and on every street corner, practically, is a destitute widow looking for hand-outs. The place is ripe for ministry, and such. It is basically a third-world country, even though their economy is on the upswing. People do not seem to take care of their own there, and that God's love is needed there in a very big way. If you find a ministry in your own country, that is good too. May God bless!

by pure grace · Feb 19, 2005

God 'tricked' me into missions completely. I had no interest to go until my husband convinced me to go along on a two week trip to the Phillippines. Since then my heart has changed and I have been back 4 times and support a Bible School.
My advice to you is: Don't worry so much about where the biggest need might be, just be available to Him and allow Him to place you wherever He wants. You'll see that things will happen and in the meantime - practise where you are. He has entrusted you with people right now. They are just as important. I see my neighbourhood as my 'home -mission' field and the Phillippines as my other mission field. I have been able to share stories from the Phillippines to my friends that has made them softer towards the Gospel and I have also told stories about my friends to the Filipinos that has touched their hearts too. God can use ANYTHING to reach people! So don't worry - just trust Him to lead you there!

China for Him · Feb 22, 2005

Amen!!!!!!!!!!! Willing and available. It took 18 years from the time I stood in a church service and vowed to go where God would lead me until I flew into China for my first "missions" trip. In the meantime my mission field was church, my family, my friends, my neighbors. God has timing down to perfection. Never jump the gun.

ElElohe · Feb 22, 2005

lambslove said:
The US, Canada and Britain are the most needy countries when it comes to people who have never really heard the message of Christ. If you can, do mission work right here!

I used to live in the innercity in Cleveland, and almost none of the people ever heard the Good News.

I disagree with this passionately; the US, Canada and Britain all have flourishing (relatively, now) and reproducing congregations.

Many people groups that can number in the millions--most of them in SE Asia--dont have a Bible. They don't have a church in their region, let alone one in their city. Some of them don't even have a written language to have a Bible.

We do need to employ some strategy. The Spirit will still lead us, but God is organized and thus are we. We all know that we in missions have quite limited resources and that also behooves us to use them wisely and timely.

What are the places most in need of ministry?

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