What are the places most in need of ministry?

[Crashfreak]

I feel very strongly like most people here, that God will Call you to certain place and time and you must answer that call. In that God will be glorified. Personally I feel Africa is in the most need, why....because that is where my heart is. But in saying that no country is less in need (so to speak) all need to be reached, each person needs to know Christ. Not one is to be missed. Just listen to God and he will direct you to the people he has for you, for not only their benefit but yours as well. And if you do not feel called yet (because you will be), then practice. Live a life that is filled with the great commision in mind. The world is our crop, and it is time for the harvest.

 

[ElElohe]

It's true.

And God won't keep all of such passion only in certain places. But it should be a missionary's goal to work themselves out of a job-to create a congregation that is self-sustaining and reproducing.

Nonetheless, I can't forget verses that talk of how all people's will hear of Christ before God comes back. I am eager for God to come back; maranatha! Should we not in our desire to be with our Maker and Saviour do what we can to expedite His return?

Of course we cannot set the date, and He knows it aforehand anyway. And the longer he waits with His hand of wrath, the more that will come to His throne. He desires that none should perish, though we all know sadly that this is not the case.

Again it is a matter of strategy. The 10/40 window has been cited as the area of greatest need, and not out of a few people's passion or calling, but out of years of research.

I feel very strongly like most people here, that God will Call you to certain place and time and you must answer that call. In that God will be glorified. Personally I feel Africa is in the most need, why....because that is where my heart is. But in saying that no country is less in need (so to speak) all need to be reached, each person needs to know Christ. Not one is to be missed. Just listen to God and he will direct you to the people he has for you, for not only their benefit but yours as well. And if you do not feel called yet (because you will be), then practice. Live a life that is filled with the great commision in mind. The world is our crop, and it is time for the harvest.

 

[Crashfreak]

It's true.

And God won't keep all of such passion only in certain places. But it should be a missionary's goal to work themselves out of a job-to create a congregation that is self-sustaining and reproducing.

Nonetheless, I can't forget verses that talk of how all people's will hear of Christ before God comes back. I am eager for God to come back; maranatha! Should we not in our desire to be with our Maker and Saviour do what we can to expedite His return?

Of course we cannot set the date, and He knows it aforehand anyway. And the longer he waits with His hand of wrath, the more that will come to His throne. He desires that none should perish, though we all know sadly that this is not the case.

Again it is a matter of strategy. The 10/40 window has been cited as the area of greatest need, and not out of a few people's passion or calling, but out of years of research.

The 10/40 window is definitely a place that is more often than not ignored, not ignored completely. But people are less willing to reach the unsaved when there is a high probability that your life will end in matyrdom. Not putting down any other areas or anything, but as ElElohe mentioned it has come up as the area of most need through years of research.

 

[Overtime_man]

I think that it's hard to single out any one region or country as being most in need of missions workers. These days, I would say that there's as much hostility and resistance to Christianity in Western countries like France and England than in places that have no historical connection to Christianity. So that being said, perhaps a good place to start would be one's own backyard. You'll likely be much more effective if you're working in an environment that you're familiar with, and speaking a language you know fluently.

 

[ZACTAK]

I'm hopefully going to Barcelona, Spain this summer for mission work.

 

[the truth]

I feel the greatest need is geting bibles to people. 75% of the world has not even seen one verse of scripture. God bless.

 

[ElElohe]

I feel the greatest need is geting bibles to people. 75% of the world has not even seen one verse of scripture. God bless.

Part of the reason for this is that:

A lot of unreached cultures are oral cultures

and

A lot of unreached cultures don't have a written language

Wycliffe and others do very very well at translation work. In fact, Wycliffe is very highly regarded among non-christians for their anthropological and linguistic work.

 

[Overtime_man]

Wycliffe and others do very very well at translation work. In fact, Wycliffe is very highly regarded among non-christians for their anthropological and linguistic work.

Another organization involved in language development projects is SIL. A brief history of SIL can be found on their web site : www.sil.org/sil/history.htm

 

[ElElohe]

My understanding is the SIL is a part of Wycliffe, though it is the part that is used when talking of Wycliffe overseas.

My wife and I have friends who left for Indonesia area last year under SIL. With reference to our other conversation, he is actually Tawainese. She is American, but his being Tawainese will certainly aid in their ministry. One thing we haven't glanced on, but I'm highly in favor of and have participated in, is evangelizing and discipling international students who will return to their culture and act as a witness. This of course is a great idea especially with regard to CAN's (Creative Access Nations).

Another organization involved in language development projects is SIL. A brief history of SIL can be found on their web site : www.sil.org/sil/history.htm

 

[Overtime_man]

My understanding is the SIL is a part of Wycliffe, though it is the part that is used when talking of Wycliffe overseas.

I wasn't aware of the connection, but in any event I think that SIL/Wycliffe do admirable work. Like any large organization, they've managed to attract a lot of naysayers, and consequently have had a mountain of criticism heaped upon them, but they seem to just keep chugging along. Some in the secular community feel that SIL is "too religious", and some in the religious community take the position that SIL isn't religious enough - oh well, you can't please everyone, I suppose. From my point of view, I think they're providing a valuable service to communities around the globe which, for the most part, have been marginalized or outright forgotten by the world at large.

 

[Kiwi]

I am currently studying anthropology and many anthropologists are very anti-SIL and Whitcliff, so to say they have a good name amongst non-christians is probably not true. Of course we can't really expect them to understand why they do what they do, since they are non-christians (obviously). I have done missions on a number of different continents and Europe was the hardest by far. In fact South America was a walk in the park compared to Europe. Two of the biggest missionary sending nations in the world are Brazil and South Korea, so you can see 3rd world countries will be outstripping us soon in sending out missionaries. I havn't been to any middle east countries though, that would be pretty hard.

 

[ZiSunka]

Wherever you are, that's where God has called you to minister.

 

[ZiSunka]

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.

The lost people in Cleveland are no less lost than the lost people in China. The lost people in San Francisco are no less lost than the lost people in Saudia Arabia. The lost people in Florida are no less lost than the lost people in Africa.

US churches are not growing, people are just moving around from one congregation to the next. In Canada, church attendence has fallen 78% in the last 30 years. In Britain, only 3 out of 100 people attend church regularly, and less than 20 percent say they believe in God as more than an abstact idea.

God needs Believers to minister in every corner of the world, even this one.

 

[ElElohe]

The lost people in Cleveland are no less lost than the lost people in China. The lost people in San Francisco are no less lost than the lost people in Saudia Arabia. The lost people in Florida are no less lost than the lost people in Africa.

Yes, to be apart from Christ is to be apart from Christ. At no point have I denied this. And God wishes that none should perish . . .

US churches are not growing, people are just moving around from one congregation to the next. In Canada, church attendence has fallen 78% in the last 30 years. In Britain, only 3 out of 100 people attend church regularly, and less than 20 percent say they believe in God as more than an abstact idea.

God needs Believers to minister in every corner of the world, even this one.

And yes, God does need His ministers in every corner of the world, and that is exactly what I'm trying to say here, what we're trying to accomplish. The point to the question at the top of this thread is where the need remains to be greatest. And the simple truth is that America and the west in general have churches, they have this witness--these ministers.

I am saying, per verses such as Mal 1:11, Matt 24:14, Rev 5:9 and 7:9 that this will happen. We will have ministers in every corner. That is, according to these verses, a promise from God. And we have the privilege of being a part of seeing this accomplished.

There are places that don't have any of these ministers at all. They don't have a church at all. They don't have the Bible in their language.

So to answer the question "Where's the greatest need?" I say: where the Gospel has not yet been heard.

Statistically, Turkey is the least reached country in the world. (Operation World)

The following is from www.JoshuaProject.net

100 Largest Unreached/Least-Reached Peoples http://www.joshuaproject.net/unreached.php

 

[Crashfreak]

The lost people in Cleveland are no less lost than the lost people in China. The lost people in San Francisco are no less lost than the lost people in Saudia Arabia. The lost people in Florida are no less lost than the lost people in Africa.

I agree here 100%, the lost are lost....no matter where they are in the world.

US churches are not growing, people are just moving around from one congregation to the next. In Canada, church attendence has fallen 78% in the last 30 years. In Britain, only 3 out of 100 people attend church regularly, and less than 20 percent say they believe in God as more than an abstact idea.

God needs Believers to minister in every corner of the world, even this one.

Here is a bit of the problem though. In America there is not really a problem with the amount of people serving in ministry, my view on it is the quality. Due to various things the quality of ministry is lacking in America. I am not saying that it is worse than any other countries, but for the amount of people working in ministry and the amount of people claiming to be Christians, there should be a much greater impact that the church has in American's lives....which I don't truely see. I once saw a statistic that said that there is one minister/preacher/evangalist for every 400 US residents. Compared to most other countries which averaged out at like 1 minister/preacher/evanglist for every 10,000 residents. (I actually can't remember the exact number but I am pretty sure that is a safe estimate). And here is the point of the thread, America needs a lot of things, but it isn't in desperate need to people to help the ministry. In this regard other countries are in more dire need than America can know. I mean how many people do you know that are going out to the world instead of staying in the US? Then compare that number to the amount of people you know who are staying....

There is something wrong there....people are more willing to help their own, it is natural and very understandable. But we are God's people, we are citizen's of heaven first and foremost. Which means that we should feel more connected with a Japanese Christian than with just an average American who isn't Christian. It is very understandable that this is not the case though.

 

[ZiSunka]

Part of the reason for this is that:

A lot of unreached cultures are oral cultures

and

A lot of unreached cultures don't have a written language

Wycliffe and others do very very well at translation work. In fact, Wycliffe is very highly regarded among non-christians for their anthropological and linguistic work.

But the biggest reason is that they are too poor, too remote or too persecuted to buy Bibles. Even in cultures that already have translations or speak English as a native or second language, 80% of the Christians will never have a Bible of their own. North Americans own 75% of the English Bibles in the world. The average American Christian family owns at least 6 Bibles but ony uses one or two regularly.

You can share you spare Bibles with Chrisitans who need them by sending them to any of the organizations that are members of the Bible Foundation, www.bf.org.

Give the gift of Good News! Share your spare Bible!

 

[ZiSunka]

I agree here 100%, the lost are lost....no matter where they are in the world.



Here is a bit of the problem though. In America there is not really a problem with the amount of people serving in ministry, my view on it is the quality. Due to various things the quality of ministry is lacking in America. I am not saying that it is worse than any other countries, but for the amount of people working in ministry and the amount of people claiming to be Christians, there should be a much greater impact that the church has in American's lives....which I don't truely see. I once saw a statistic that said that there is one minister/preacher/evangalist for every 400 US residents. Compared to most other countries which averaged out at like 1 minister/preacher/evanglist for every 10,000 residents. (I actually can't remember the exact number but I am pretty sure that is a safe estimate). And here is the point of the thread, America needs a lot of things, but it isn't in desperate need to people to help the ministry. In this regard other countries are in more dire need than America can know. I mean how many people do you know that are going out to the world instead of staying in the US? Then compare that number to the amount of people you know who are staying....

There is something wrong there....people are more willing to help their own, it is natural and very understandable. But we are God's people, we are citizen's of heaven first and foremost. Which means that we should feel more connected with a Japanese Christian than with just an average American who isn't Christian. It is very understandable that this is not the case though.

The best missionaries are native people. Instead of running off to some exotic culture, you can support a native missionary that can have instant rapport with the people because he or she lives in that community. American missionaries can hardly make an impact on the community within three years, sometimes it is 10 years or more until that American is accepted into the community. Support for an American missionary ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 per year, but most native missionaries need only $2000 or less a year to live and minister to the community. There really aren't any cultures left that need an American to go give the Good News because native people can do it better, longer, for less. Support a native missionary and do your own ministering among your own community!

 

[Crashfreak]

The best missionaries are native people. Instead of running off to some exotic culture, you can support a native missionary that can have instant rapport with the people because he or she lives in that community. American missionaries can hardly make an impact on the community within three years, sometimes it is 10 years or more until that American is accepted into the community. Support for an American missionary ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 per year, but most native missionaries need only $2000 or less a year to live and minister to the community. There really aren't any cultures left that need an American to go give the Good News because native people can do it better, longer, for less. Support a native missionary and do your own ministering among your own community!

I agree and disagree, firstly I completely agree that native missionaries do a better job. But there are still not enough. I would love to see native missionaries making dynamic and wonderful changes to their community, there are just not enough. And those that have the heart to do this still need training to some extent. It isn't about giving the Good News all the time, a missionary is not somebody who just goes and preaches to the people, they build houses, set up farming and irrigation, help education and be there for the people. And Americans have these skills that are needed to set up systems that can have a long term effect.

Third World nations need people more than they need money. They need people with skills and education willing to do a lot of work for very little pay. But lots of people think as you do....so it is probably just me.

 

[ElElohe]

I'm curious to know where this information came from.

But the biggest reason is that they are too poor, too remote or too persecuted to buy Bibles. Even in cultures that already have translations or speak English as a native or second language, 80% of the Christians will never have a Bible of their own. North Americans own 75% of the English Bibles in the world. The average American Christian family owns at least 6 Bibles but ony uses one or two regularly.

You can share you spare Bibles with Chrisitans who need them by sending them to any of the organizations that are members of the Bible Foundation, www.bf.org.

Give the gift of Good News! Share your spare Bible!

Granted many are too poor, but that is irrelevant if they can't buy a Bible they can read anyway. As well, there are orgs. such as the Gideons that give away hundreds of thousands of Bible's a year all over the world.

Wycliffe didn't address what you claim here in the 5 minutes I had to peruse their website (www.Wycliffe.org), but did have a lot of interesting stats such as the following:

 

[Overtime_man]

It isn't about giving the Good News all the time, a missionary is not somebody who just goes and preaches to the people, they build houses, set up farming and irrigation, help education and be there for the people. And Americans have these skills that are needed to set up systems that can have a long term effect.

Third World nations need people more than they need money. They need people with skills and education willing to do a lot of work for very little pay. But lots of people think as you do....so it is probably just me.

Now this raises a whole new question, one that goes to the heart of what exactly a missionary should be. Is it the job of a Missionary to build up infrastructure, assist in education and generally do the type of work that numerous secular charities are actively engaged in, or should the focus of a missionary be on sharing the Good News? I personally believe that works stem from faith, and so I don't see a problem with Christian missionaries performing certain duties that fall within the secular realm. However, I think the main work of the missionary must remain with sharing the gospel. If we are going to use the first New Testament missionaries as a model, it would be hard to find any examples of Paul roaming about foreign lands, building schools and hospitals, all the while neglecting to tell people the Good News. (having said that, I must admit that I'm not at all sure that we should be using the NT model of missionaries in the modern era...times have changed, so has technology, and we need to take full advantage of that to spread the Good News.)